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Planting Events

Volunteer Orientation & Planting Days

Volunteer orientation for Bronson Park Bed Adopters will be held Saturday, April 14 from 11-noon at MSU Extension's Spring Gathering of Gardeners event, 3299 Gull Road in the Georgian Room.

Volunteer orientation for Portage Bed Adopters will be held Tuesday, May 1 from 7-8 pm at the Portage Senior Center, 320 Library Lane.

Planting day in Bronson Park occurs the Thursday before Memorial Day.  The next planting day will be May 24, 2012, 9am – 1 pm (or when finished).

Planting day in Portage occurs the third Friday in May.  The next planting day will be May 18, 2012, 8am – 1 pm (or when finished).

At the end of the season, flowers are pulled from Bronson Park and the beds are put to rest.  The date for plant pulling has not been determined yet.  It usually takes place at the end of September.

Upcoming Events

Peacock planting days - Tuesday, May 15 and Thursday, May 17 at 8 am in Bronson Park.

Canoe planting day - Wednesday, May 16 at 8 am on the corner of S. Westnedge and Old Westnedge Avenues.  Park in the Library parking lot.

Portage planting day - Friday, May 18 at 8:30 am on Library Lane.  Park in the Library parking lot.  Hot beverages and snacks in the morning and pizza and drinks at lunchtime.  

Kalamazoo planting day - Thursday, May 24 at 9 am at Bronson Park.  Park in the west end of First United Methodist Church's parking lot.  In case of memorial service, alternate parking is at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts on South Street.


Past Events

The Great Pumpkin Soiree was held on November 2 at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts.  This pumpkin tasting competition and silent auction fundraiser - first of its kind for Kalamazoo in Bloom - helped us raise over $4,200 which will go towards the purchase of flowers that will be planted across Kalamazoo County next spring.

The chef/restaurant who took home both the People's Choice and overall winner awards was Katie Wittenberg of Bravo.  Her puff pastry filled with pumpkin mouse and drizzled with maple glaze and bacon pieces won over the majority of taste buds.

Thank you to all of our sponsors, contributors and competing participants:

Extreme Power Equipment
IHS Distributing
Gordon Water
Martin & Associates Environmental
The Ample Pantry
The Beacon Club
Bold
Bravo!
The Cheese Lady
Discover Kalamazoo
Forever Framing
The Gilmore
Harding’s
Heilman’s Nuts & Confections
I’ve Got Your Purse
Kalamazoo Civic Theatre
Kalamazoo Cooks Culinary Programs
Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
Kalamazoo Nature Center
Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra
Millennium Restaurant Group
Photo Impact Photography
Sweetwater’s
Tiffany’s Wine & Spirit Shoppe
Special thanks to Gene Rhodes, better known as Gene the Pumpkin Man, and Charlie Brown

Tomato Taste-Off

Kalamazoo in Bloom, in partnership with MSU Extension/Master Gardener Program and the Kalamazoo Garden Council, held the Tomato Taste-Off event at the Nazareth Complex on August 27. Tomatoes of all varieties grown in local backyards were entered in a tasting competition and judged by event attendees.  Winners  in four tomato categories were chosen.

Cherry tomato
First — Terry Kott for variety Anna Aasa
Second — Jeff Fleming for variety Chocolate Pear
Third — Linda Whitlock for variety Sun Sugar

Roma or paste tomato
First — Diana Schneider for variety Juliettes
Second (tie) — Jeff Fleming for variety Amish Paste and Bob Poel for variety Juliette roma/cherry
Third — David Fening for variety Crandarero

Heirloom tomato
First, second and third — Jeff Fleming for varieties Black Krim, Lemmony and Mayo’s Delight, in that order

Slicer tomato
First and third — Barb Chaddock for varieties Yellow Slicer and Big Mama, in that order
Second — Gail William for variety Yellow Jubilee




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