May 19, 2012 Havenwoods Bloom and Groom

Havenwoods was a buzz with activity this past Saturday with HEDC's second annual Bloom and Groom.   Both the Lighthouse and Brody neighborhoods hosted our flower sale this year.  Special thanks to the Lighthouse Block Watch, Redemption Church, Lighthouse Youth Center and highly involved Brody residents for a smooth sale and long hours in the hot sun.  With discounted prices from Lowe's and NIDC of the City of Milwaukee, the flowers cost a fraction of what they normally do.  But, more importantly than the cheap prices, neighbors were out planting, interacting with each other and beautifying our Havenwoods neighborhood.

Volunteerism was spectacular. At a prior garden class held by HEDC in cooperation with an Urban Ecology Center educator, five residents won a garden design and implementation.  Master gardeners from the UWM Extension worked on designs after meeting with the winners. Then Job Corps students spent hours of their time preparing most of the garden beds. The collaborative efforts of the master gardeners, Genco volunteers, Job Corps, HEDC and Havenwoods neighbors provided the implementation.

Genco did not only plant, they helped with the flower sales, delivered rain barrels and did a grand clean up on 64th St. between Silver Spring and Mill.  Just in time to welcome our new monument sign on the corner of 64th and Mill, nearly finished.

Not to forget, Starbucks Coffee and Cousins Subs provided us with some needed fuel for the project. 

Special thanks to Karen Busch, Rose Sandrone, Janet Barnekow, Heidi Blank and Pastor Winkel for the planning and coordinating the sales.  Thanks to Job Corps and Lighthouse youth for canvassing the word out.

Be sure to check out the photo gallery for upcoming pictures of the event.  In one month we will have a round robin garden admiration event with Bloom and Groom participants.