History

Kalamazoo in Bloom was incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 1984 as Kalamazoo County Flowerfest. Its focus was a three-day flower festival in which greenhouses and growers highlighted their new plant varieties. As the area with the largest bedding industry in the world, the festival helped celebrate our local growers and create community pride.

The organization made the decision to celebrate the history and traditions of the area’s plant industries year-round with beautification efforts across Kalamazoo County. The name was changed to Kalamazoo in Bloom in 2003, and the focus areas included Bronson Park, City Hall and the County Courthouse in downtown Kalamazoo, Library Lane and the City Center in Portage, Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport, Kalamazoo Transportation Center, Eastern gateway stretch along E. Michigan Avenue, Arcadia Festival Place, and the Kalamazoo Mall.

Because of these beautification efforts, Kalamazoo in Bloom and Kalamazoo County were honored with several distinctions including the Governor’s Tourism Award in 1991, and 1st place for community involvement from America in Bloom in 2002, with recognition in 2003, 2004, and 2005.

Today, Kalamazoo in Bloom continues to plant flowers in downtown Kalamazoo and Portage, and also purchases annuals for use at Robert Morris Park in Comstock and Crane Park. In 2015, Kalamazoo in Bloom was awarded the President's Award, the highest recognition, from Keep Michigan Beautiful for all of its beautification efforts. For the 40th anniversary, KIB received a legislative tribute signed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

Partnerships with the City of Kalamazoo, City of Portage, Kalamazoo Valley Plant Growers Cooperative, and other groups make this work possible. Kalamazoo in Bloom is proud to serve Kalamazoo County and to help make the area a beautiful, welcoming place to live, work, and play.