It’s Time to Give Thanks
By Marvin Miller
AIB President
The Thanksgiving season is upon us, and it seems only appropriate to thank everyone in the America in Bloom(AIB) family for all of their volunteer efforts which allow us to plant pride in our communities. Certainly, kudos are well deserved in city after city to all of the volunteers who help make the AIB experience what it is coast-to-coast. We are an all-volunteer organization, and it is through the passionate efforts of all of our volunteers that we continue to make our country a better place to live, one community at a time.
Today, I’d also like to thank another group of players in this all too important effort. Yes, I’d like to offer special thanks to the plants, the flowers, trees, shrubs, turf, and groundcovers, that do their all-important tasks in helping to make our world a better place. And while you may be thinking that “pretty” is the operative adjective to describe these plants’ effects on our environment, their contributions certainly go way beyond!
Witness a few examples from some of our own AIB cities in 2011:
Springfield, Ohio, was recognized by AIB in 2011 for its floral displays. The city focused on bright, pink and blue flowers to tie the city’s displays together and planted hanging baskets downtown, on the Veterans’ Bridges, and on the terraces at City Hall. There were also flower beds throughout the city. It was indeed quite beautiful.
But I wonder if the residents were aware of the other aspects that the flowers provided, beyond the beauty. We know that flowers attract visitors and shoppers, and I’m guessing the plantings helped welcome both to the downtown area. I suspect the flowers could have also played a role in keeping vacancies in the shopping districts to a minimum. There’s a good chance the flowers helped brighten the mood of passersby, as well. And while crime may not be a big problem in Springfield, there is evidence to suggest that green spaces help reduce crime. All of these additional benefits, and they’re pretty, too!
Another “Buckeye State” city, Bexley, Ohio, was recognized by AIB for its efforts in urban forestry. As the judges wrote, “Bexley is not just a tree city; it is a city that could be an arboretum.” The city’s tree inventory includes one tree on public property for every resident. Private spaces add more trees to the tally. The city’s staff includes three certified arborists, who also consult with residents when asked. The city’s tree commission has even published a book describing the city’s landmark trees. The trees certainly help create a sense of place and a sense of community.
While the residents of Bexley are justifiably proud of their city and their trees, I have to ask whether these folks recognize all of the other benefits these trees provide. Certainly, the air in Bexley is probably better for all of the oxygen these trees produce. And we know trees fix carbon better than other horticultural amenities, at least on a square foot basis. But these trees also help to shade the streets, which research has shown will help the city get a longer life for its asphalt dollars. Trees also help reduce air conditioning costs, from the shade provided, and a well-placed tree can even help reduce heating costs in winter. Trees help block the wind, which also will reduce wind-caused soil erosion. Dollar for dollar, trees are really great additions to a city’s landscape. Oh, and they’re pretty, too!
Sackets Harbor, New York, was recognized in 2011 for its landscaped areas. The main commercial street in Sackets Harbor boasts wide sidewalk plantings containing great combinations of plant materials. Merchants know this helps attract shoppers. Tin Pan Galley’s artful landscape makes dining there a delight. Entryway signs feature the official village colors and are nicely landscaped. In addition, the Sackets Harbor Central School Community Garden serves as a successful educational tool for students, as they learn about different types of vegetables and eating a healthy diet. And since they share the produce with local seniors, the students not only learn from different generations but about giving as well.
While the praise is well deserved, the landscapes, no doubt, are adding other benefits to Sackets Harbor. Several studies have shown that street-side plantings can help moderate traffic flow, help reduce drivers’ speeds, and can even help reduce possible driver rage, not that these are real issues in Sackets Harbor. Landscape plantings also can help reduce glare, both during the day and from car lights at night. And appropriate landscaping helps reduce water runoff, provides habitat for birds and other wildlife, and can even reduce noise pollution. Benefits galore and these landscapes are pretty, too!
Fayetteville, Arkansas, was recognized in 2011 for its turf and groundcover areas. (Fayetteville will also be the host city for our 2012 Symposium next fall.) The turf and groundcover recognition noted not only turf on golf courses, ball fields, and event spaces, but also recognized Fayetteville’s restored prairies, wildlife habitats, and wildflower meadows. Judges noted that Fayetteville was investigating the most environmentally appropriate watering protocols, species selection, fertilizer options, and pest management programs.
While I know the folks in Fayetteville get it – after all, they’ve been AIB “troopers” from the beginning, 10 years ago, I have to ask whether all of the residents appreciate the added benefits of good turf and groundcover areas. Turf is an excellent oxygen producer, as a 2,500 sq. ft. lawn can provide the oxygen needs of a family of four for a year. Turf and groundcovers are tremendous at preventing soil erosion. Prairies are excellent when it comes to maintaining plant diversity and whole-ecosystem balance, and prairies can improve water quality. When you put it all together, turf and groundcover areas are really quite functional, and they can be quite pretty, too!
So, as we contemplate our many blessings this holiday season, think about all of the plants that help our lives in so many ways. Yes, they can be quite pretty, but they are very functional in so many other ways. (For more information on these benefits, be sure to check out the AIB website at www.americainbloom.org and search under the Community Resources tab for the benefits of plants.)
Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
AIB President
The Thanksgiving season is upon us, and it seems only appropriate to thank everyone in the America in Bloom(AIB) family for all of their volunteer efforts which allow us to plant pride in our communities. Certainly, kudos are well deserved in city after city to all of the volunteers who help make the AIB experience what it is coast-to-coast. We are an all-volunteer organization, and it is through the passionate efforts of all of our volunteers that we continue to make our country a better place to live, one community at a time.
Today, I’d also like to thank another group of players in this all too important effort. Yes, I’d like to offer special thanks to the plants, the flowers, trees, shrubs, turf, and groundcovers, that do their all-important tasks in helping to make our world a better place. And while you may be thinking that “pretty” is the operative adjective to describe these plants’ effects on our environment, their contributions certainly go way beyond!
Witness a few examples from some of our own AIB cities in 2011:
Springfield, Ohio, was recognized by AIB in 2011 for its floral displays. The city focused on bright, pink and blue flowers to tie the city’s displays together and planted hanging baskets downtown, on the Veterans’ Bridges, and on the terraces at City Hall. There were also flower beds throughout the city. It was indeed quite beautiful.But I wonder if the residents were aware of the other aspects that the flowers provided, beyond the beauty. We know that flowers attract visitors and shoppers, and I’m guessing the plantings helped welcome both to the downtown area. I suspect the flowers could have also played a role in keeping vacancies in the shopping districts to a minimum. There’s a good chance the flowers helped brighten the mood of passersby, as well. And while crime may not be a big problem in Springfield, there is evidence to suggest that green spaces help reduce crime. All of these additional benefits, and they’re pretty, too!
While the residents of Bexley are justifiably proud of their city and their trees, I have to ask whether these folks recognize all of the other benefits these trees provide. Certainly, the air in Bexley is probably better for all of the oxygen these trees produce. And we know trees fix carbon better than other horticultural amenities, at least on a square foot basis. But these trees also help to shade the streets, which research has shown will help the city get a longer life for its asphalt dollars. Trees also help reduce air conditioning costs, from the shade provided, and a well-placed tree can even help reduce heating costs in winter. Trees help block the wind, which also will reduce wind-caused soil erosion. Dollar for dollar, trees are really great additions to a city’s landscape. Oh, and they’re pretty, too!
While the praise is well deserved, the landscapes, no doubt, are adding other benefits to Sackets Harbor. Several studies have shown that street-side plantings can help moderate traffic flow, help reduce drivers’ speeds, and can even help reduce possible driver rage, not that these are real issues in Sackets Harbor. Landscape plantings also can help reduce glare, both during the day and from car lights at night. And appropriate landscaping helps reduce water runoff, provides habitat for birds and other wildlife, and can even reduce noise pollution. Benefits galore and these landscapes are pretty, too!
While I know the folks in Fayetteville get it – after all, they’ve been AIB “troopers” from the beginning, 10 years ago, I have to ask whether all of the residents appreciate the added benefits of good turf and groundcover areas. Turf is an excellent oxygen producer, as a 2,500 sq. ft. lawn can provide the oxygen needs of a family of four for a year. Turf and groundcovers are tremendous at preventing soil erosion. Prairies are excellent when it comes to maintaining plant diversity and whole-ecosystem balance, and prairies can improve water quality. When you put it all together, turf and groundcover areas are really quite functional, and they can be quite pretty, too!
So, as we contemplate our many blessings this holiday season, think about all of the plants that help our lives in so many ways. Yes, they can be quite pretty, but they are very functional in so many other ways. (For more information on these benefits, be sure to check out the AIB website at www.americainbloom.org and search under the Community Resources tab for the benefits of plants.)
Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
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