By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Mike Dauterman had a vision of planting happiness and watching it blossom all summer on front porches across Bowling Green.
On Sunday evening in City Park, residents showed up to participate in his “Blooming Green Front Porch Flower Pot Challenge.” The project was the brain child of Dauterman, with the help of a $1,500 micro-grant from the City of Bowling Green.
As Dauterman watched the people line up for their pots, potting soil and plants, he couldn’t help but smile.
“People seem really happy,” he said.
Jo Sipes was one of those people delighted by getting her hands dirty to create a burst of color for her front porch.
“I thank you for the lovely day today,” Sipes said to Dauterman. “You are making so many people happy. This is just another ‘pop-up surprise’ in Bowling Green.”
The project provided 50 pots, a mound of dirt, and a rainbow of flowers.
“I just thought it would be something fun my family could do,” Dauterman said. “And people are showing up.”
His daughters, Sway and Journey, helped by making signs for stations at the event – designating tables for planting, cookies and more.
Volunteers staffed each station. Chloe Beeker helped at the floral station, instructing people that they could choose one tall spike and three flowers for their pot. Among the selection were vinca, impatiens, calibrachoa, petunias, marigolds, geraniums, and pentas.
“They seem to really be enjoying the event,” Beeker said as people picked out plants. “I think they like the option of creating the pot themselves. There are so many to choose from.”
At the planting station, tiny hands were gently guided by more experienced green thumbs as they arranged plants in their 10-inch pots. Aerial Frank and her three sons decided on pinks, reds and whites for their pot. “I love petunias,” she said. “That was an easy choice for me.”
As he continued watching families work on their pots, Dauterman dreamed of doubling the flower pot challenge next year.
Dauterman said as he drives around his city the rest of the summer, he will be looking for the front porches adorned by the “Blooming Green” effort. He’s hoping it grows into something beyond individual pots.
“It seems like a bigger thing now,” he said, with a smile. “Bowling Green has been good to me,” and he sees this as his gift in return.
In addition to the city micro-grant, the “Blooming Green” project was supported by Wolf’s Blooms, D&D Landscaping, First Sip Coffee, Little Rita’s, Hot Off the Press, Staples, and Weilnau Construction.
