Volunteers beautify downtown Uniontown
Dressed in an array of bright flowers and plants, downtown Uniontown is looking mighty good. The Green Gardeners, a civic organization that formed in 1952, continued its annual planting day on Monday, installing 1,790 plants in the Shade Garden on Pittsburgh Street, parking garage gardens, George C. Marshall Memorial Plaza at Five Corners and planters on Gallatin Avenue, Beeson Avenue, Morgantown Street and Church Street.
“Our civic planting is the foundation of our organization,’ said Donna George, Green Gardeners president. “We plan months in advance, preparing soil and carefully selecting just the right plants and flowers that will thrive in our various gardens throughout the downtown area. We try to provide our city with added color and beauty for all of our citizens to enjoy.’
The Green Gardeners also assisted in the community planting day held Saturday and sponsored by the Fayette Progress Council, the non-profit arm of Commercial Center Associates.
With volunteers, the Fayette Progress Council planted 1,454 flowers and plants in 117 planters along city streets and in Storey Square, Eberly Square and Nemacolin Courtyard.
“This is the first time we’ve done this,’ said Jennifer Eicher, office manager for Commercial Center Associates. “We wanted to get the community involved with planting so everyone could feel a sense of pride and joy.’
Both days were a success. About 40 volunteers showed up on Saturday. Besides Green Gardeners, participants included downtown business merchants, a Girl Scout troop, the Community Foundation of Fayette County and resident volunteers.
Ellen Ulmer, head of the Green Gardeners’ civic improvement committee, noted that a motorist stopped her while the planting was taking place Saturday and asked if everyone working was a volunteer.
“Main Street was packed,’ Ulmer noted. “He said, ‘You have to be commended.’ We were happy to see that many people.’
On Monday, about 15 members of the Green Gardeners participated in their own annual planting day, working in chilly temperatures but under clear skies.
“We do it because when you go through town you feel so good about it,’ said Ulmer.
“It’s pride in the city,’ said George.
The Green Gardeners worked with the Fayette Progress Council to select flowers for the downtown planting sites.
The selections include pink and purple petunias, purple and green sweet potato vine, red salvia and spiky green dracenia.
The Green Gardeners also were planting begonias in Marshall Memorial Plaza and yellow marigolds and white vincas in the parking garage garden. The latter also boasts beautiful purple irises that were planted three to four years ago.
Neubauer’s Flowers of Uniontown provided the plants for the Fayette Progress Council, while David’s Greenhouse in Georges Township provided the plants for the Green Gardeners.