(LaPorte, IN) - Downtown LaPorte is bursting with colors from nearly 6,000 flowers and plants being placed into the new soil. The young transplants are in the 130 or so brick planters along Lincolnway and other connecting streets.

 

The work beginning Monday was finished Wednesday by Bill Campbell and his crew from Perennials Galore which operates 12 greenhouses open to the public at 5652 E. Indiana 4 near Mill Creek.

 

Their work on Michigan Ave. outside City Hall caught the attention of mayor Tom Dermody, who greeted the over half dozen workers. “It’s worthwhile to see how it beautifies LaPorte and brings pride to the community,” said Mayor Tom Dermody.

 

Campbell said the large flower boxes received the usual petunias, begonias, and sweet potatoes brought in from his growing operation. 

 

Sunflowers were introduced to the planters for the very first time. “I think they’re going to be pretty awesome,” Campbell said.  The boxes equipped with automatic sprinklers used to be planted and maintained by volunteers.

 

Perennials Galore was hired to do the work about a decade ago by the city’s Business Improvement District for consistency. Campbell said he and his crew will return every week to pull weeds and do other maintenance, but they won’t have as much to do once the plants become large enough to choke out new weed growth.

 

Al Smith, owner of Maple City Sports at 718 Lincolnway, watched the planters in front of his store get filled on Tuesday. He saw the automatic sprinklers turn on while opening up for business the next morning. “They look very nice,” he said.

 

Dermody said the outside of the planters were also powered washed by members of the city’s water and sewer departments. “Especially during this tough time people are still willing to give for their community. It just looks fantastic,” he said.