Punta Gorda in Bloom

Baby blooms they may be, but this new downtown replanting represents many post hurricane hours by Punta Gorda in Bloom volunteers. In a matter of weeks these plants will explode with vibrant color. Volunteer bloomers included Alan Schulman, the program’s financial benefactor, and program founder and Co-Chair Richard Polk.

It was quite a project. Sixty planters, three fountains, seven hundred plants and more were refurbished and replanted. The bedding and planters had to be cleaned of hurricane debris. Irrigation issues needed to be addressed. Hours were spent organizing the arrival of plants at the Botanical and Sculpture Gardens, staging them at the city’s Cooper Street warehouse and replanting them in the city center.

 

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Booming for the 2023-24 Season in Historic Punta Gorda

More than 400 new plants added to 61 planters by 20 volunteers. ClickBLOOMING for details.

 

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Punta Gorda Receives Prestigious America in Bloom Award

Punta Gorda has won the America in Bloom (AIB) 14,000 – 18,000 Population Category Award. Punta Gorda also received special recognition for its Community Involvement from its AIB Advisors. Cheryl Corson and Tim France, who spent two days in the summer touring the community.

The seven criteria for the award are: community vitality, overall impression, environmental efforts, heritage celebration, urban forestry, landscaped areas, and flowers. America in Bloom is the only national awards program that sends specially trained Advisors to personally visit participants. Each participant receives a detailed written evaluation that can be used as a guide for future improvements.

Shown below, Alan and Barbara Schulman (center) display the AIB award as AIB judges Cheryl Corson and Tim France look on.

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Bloomers Spread Their Wings in the Summer of 2022! Read More.

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America In Bloom Advisors Visit PG

America in Bloom advisors Cheryl Corson and Tim France were welcomed by volunteers from Punta Gorda in Bloom and TEAM Punta Gorda as they visited our city on April 24, 25, 2022. The purpose of their visit was to evaluate the community’s progress in improving community vitality. The results of their review will be announced at the National AIB conference the end of September.  Click on thumbnails for slide show. (Photos by Larry Cairns and Vicki Welsch).

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24 Hearty Volunteers braved the cold on Feb. 8th to replant downtown!

Punta Gorda in Bloom volunteers did it again. Planting began at 9 am and by noon, Taylor Street and Marion Avenue planters were home to over 1,000 new summer annuals. Volunteers used their own creativity in selection of specific plants and colors for the planters they tend on an ongoing basis.

 

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Planting Poinsettias on Marion – Downtown Punta Gorda!
 
 
 
Richard Polk and Alan Schulman (center photo) work with Marilyn Larkin installing  poinsettias in downtown Punta Gorda!  (photo credit: Kathy Oberle)  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PGIB Wins Video Contest! 
 
The masterful video below of Punta Gorda in Bloom created by volunteer Bruce Tompkins, has won the
America in Bloom YouTube People’s Choice Video Award
 
Seven America in Bloom communities submitted a video sharing the impact AIB is making in their towns. Punta Gorda in Bloom not only received a $1,500 prize, but earned much deserved bragging rights.
 
Thanks to everyone for voting!
 

 

 

 

TEAM Punta Gorda celebrated the completion of Punta Gorda in Bloom’s latest beautification project at an April 19, 2021 ribbon cutting sponsored by the Punta Gorda Chamber of Commerce.  According to TEAM CEO Nancy Johnson, the purpose of the event was to “recognize the accomplishment of TEAM Punta Gorda and the Green Thumbs organization in completing the Taylor Street beautification project.”

PG in Bloom founder and chairman Richard Polk was honored as were many volunteers, most of whom are members of the PGI Green Thumbs organization. Benefactor Alan Schulman and his wife Barbara were recognized for their contribution to all that blooms in Punta Gorda, including the History Park gardens.

 

Punta Gorda Chamber President John Wright introduced speakers Richard Polk, Nancy Johnson, and Mayor Lynne Matthews.  Matthews acknowledged the efforts of the volunteers, the Green Thumbs organization and TEAM PG and she confirmed City approval of the next phase of planting along Marion Avenue. Attending the event were several members of Punta Gorda City Council, City Manager Greg Murray, Assistant City Manager Melissa Reichert, and others from City Staff. A number of TEAM Punta Gorda directors and committee chairpersons were also present. Following the ribbon cutting, TEAM volunteers hosted a reception in the nearby Charlotte Community Foundation courtyard to honor those who had worked so hard on the project.

To learn more click HERE

Taylor Street photos compliments of Bruce Tompkins.