Blooming great! City splashes out on planters
William Black, Deputy Mayor and chairman of the Street Committee, said the response so far had been "fantastic" and far-reaching to include nurseries, Keep Bermuda Beautiful, paint companies and "uptown people" who were eager to see sidewalks and business entrances decorated with planters.
"We want the city to look spotless when tourists start arriving," he said, adding that the Corporation would make planters — complete with an array of plants — available to business for "adoption".
"We'll supply them, but they have to water them," he said with a chuckle.
Corporation trucks will display signs for the upcoming events over the next few months, while a competition will be launched for inner-city schools with prizes for the best displays.
"This is just the start," Mr. Black said, explaining that a major city clean-up was also planned for April during which time he hopes to kick an ongoing cigarette butt problem in the butt.
He said smokers did not realise that butts discarded on the street ended up in the storm drains and were washed into Hamilton Harbour where they were not only unsightly, but also posed a real danger to the island's marine life.
Mr. Black said the Corporation was also trying to curb smokers discarding their cigarette butts in plant containers, which killed the plants.
A number of special receptacles had been ordered last year, but he said they were not suitable for what was needed and he hoped to have the new receptacles available by April 1.
However, he added that the Corporation did not want to encourage people to smoke, so these special containers would not be dispersed in large numbers.
Businesses and schools interested in participating in the "City in Bloom" can contact City Hall for more information.
Blooming great . . .
