Dedicated to Preserving the Community

Dundee Memorial Park Association

 

Each summer, the Dundee Flower Basket Project displays identical flower baskets on the 328 old cast iron light poles in Dundee. The project was the brain-child of active Past-President Dan Rock. As Dan tells the story, he was actually looking for something for his father to do in retirement and Dan knew that watering the baskets would fill the bill. When Dan approached the association board with the idea, most were taken aback by the size of the project. However, since everyone knew Dan’s enormous capabilities and energy, the project was given their blessing. The project is now in its ninth year. In the first year, 200 baskets were hung. This year we have planted 480.

 

The first year, virtually all of the planning and volunteer recruitment was done by Dan Rock. At the end of the first year, it was clear that if the project was to be sustained, both financially and in level of effort, then an organizational structure of some sophistication was needed.

 

To do this, the entire neighborhood was divided into about fifty ‘areas’. For each area, an area captain was identified. Each area captain identified a ‘block captain’ for each of the block segments within their area. This tree structure substantially simplifies our system for collection of funds each year and enables relatively quick communications when needed.

 

After nine years, the yearly cycle of the project is well established. The cycle is as follows:

· Mid-November. Fund raising packets are prepared and sent to each area captain. Each packet contains instructions for the area captains and materials to distribute to each block captain in their area. Amounts to be collected by each block captain vary depending on the number of poles on each block and the number of people living on that block. Block captains are asked to collect funds and return them to the area captain by mid-December.

· February 1. Most funds have been collected. A careful accounting of source of donations is done. Any excess contributions are used for fertilizer and to maintain watering equipment.

· Mid-March. Volunteers meet at a local nursery (Indian Creek) to plant the baskets. This usually takes about three days. Local businesses provide lunch for the volunteers.

· March to Early May. Baskets are cultivated in a green house. The nursery posts a new picture of the growing baskets each week on their website.

· Mid-April. Volunteers are recruited to water and fertilize the baskets during the summer.

· Weekend Before Mother’s Day. Teams of volunteers hang the baskets.

· Mid-May to Mid-October. ‘Blossom Brigade’ volunteers water the baskets. Several teams water designated areas.

Mid-October. Baskets are taken down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flower Basket Project