Tue, 10 Jun 2014
The Town of Oakville gardening crews are almost finished the spring planting that will result in bursts of colour and lush foliage along boulevards, and in parks and gardens across town for residents and visitors to enjoy all summer long.
“Beautiful, well-maintained public spaces are a big part of what makes Oakville so livable,” said Mayor Rob Burton. “From our parks and boulevards to our shopping and entertainment districts, everywhere you look, Oakville is blooming.”
More than 125,000 plants will be installed this year, grown from seedlings at The Oakville Municipal Greenhouse and Conservatory on Cornwall Road. Flowers on display in planters, hanging baskets and garden beds include the common varieties of petunias, marigolds, periwinkles and begonias mixed with more exotic tropical plants such as banana trees, bougainvillea, birds of paradise and palm trees. In addition to their appearance, plants are chosen for durability in cooler weather, salt tolerance, drought tolerance, and wind resistance.
“The quality of Oakville’s plantings is largely due to our dedicated greenhouse staff, professional gardeners and community volunteers,” said Chris Mark, director of parks and open space department for the Town of Oakville. “Their efforts combined with the support of commercial sponsors mean we can all enjoy a more beautiful Oakville.”
More than 40 local businesses and organizations participate in the Oakville Blooms sponsorship program that supports the garden beds along roadways and in centre medians. For more information about the program, call ServiceOakville at 905-845-6601 or visit oakville.ca.
All planting will be finished this week. Town crews will then begin a regimen of watering, pruning and general maintenance that lasts into October.
During the summer months, residents and visitors are invited to enjoy the town’s significant floral displays at Gairloch Gardens, Erchless Estate, George’s Square, Shell Park, and Nottinghill Park.