Flower Power

BY JUNANNE KERN

S I WRITE THIS, it is a gloriously clear and sunny day, and my brain is skipping ahead to thoughts of bees, butterflies, and colorful flowers. And speaking of flowers ... Flower Power, formed in 1996, consists of a group of volunteers who design, A plant, and maintain over 16 flower gardens on community property in Canadian Lakes. Each garden area has its own leader and helpers who plan and order what they need for their gardens. Our orders go to King’s Trading Post and ACE Hardware. Both businesses take very good care of our needs. Each leader can also purchase flowers and supplies on their own and be reimbursed. Canadian Lakes Property Owners Corporation (CLPOC) financially assists Flower Power in purchases of flowers, mulch, fertilizer, and deer repellent. AND OH BOY....DO WE NEED THAT! We try to have all planting finished by Memorial Weekend. But, of course, this IS Michigan! So, weather permitting, we will get everything planted by then.

Photography by Junanne Kern

Photography by Candy Parnell

Photography by Junanne Kern

This will be my 5th spring with Flower Power and this year I am the new “leader”. Mary Chuhran has passed the “baton” to me. Thank you, Mary, for a past job well done. I am enjoying every minute of getting my hands in the soil. Not so much enjoying trying to keep deer, rabbits, and woodchucks from using our gardens for their personal buffet table. I, along with my five helpers, are keepers of the gardens at the Pines on Pierce Road and the Ribbon Garden. It is so nice to hear the “Thank you’s” and “It’s so beautiful!” from golfers and visitors coming and going from the golf course as we work in the gardens. Thank you for appreciating us.

Flower Power is active from the end of May until we put the gardens to bed for the winter, usually mid-October. If we get an early frost...sooner. New volunteers are always welcome. “Green Thumbs” are not required. Some of the flower beds need watering and we are hoping to have someone to again volunteer for that. We water Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Bill Groat will continue to water on Wednesday. If you can help with Monday and or Friday, that would be great. Canadian Lakes has a water tank that can be hooked onto a vehicle. The gardens that do not have automatic sprinkling systems are watered this way.

Flower Power has one meeting a year. It is usually the first week of May. We collect flower orders and discuss any suggestions and concerns volunteers may have. Volunteers also share with the group if they have an abundance of perennials that need to be thinned and are wanting to share them. It is a great way to meet with other volunteers and welcome newcomers to the group.

I know that we have several new families that have moved into Canadian Lakes this past year and we welcome anyone interested in getting their hands dirty this spring and summer. Stop by when you see volunteers in the gardens and take a moment to say hi and visit. If you have any questions about Flower Power you can contact me, Junanne Kern at 989-545-9559.