Joanne McQuarrie, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter | [email protected]
The usually-colourful flowerbeds around town were bare patches of soil this year, after orders of flowers were cancelled and seasonal staff positions were trimmed, both part of the town's budget reduction.
But Jennifer Ottaway, a busker who stationed herself last year at the site across from the Canadian National 6015 locomotive train on Connaught Drive as she drew portraits of people, decided to put some colour in the flowerbed.
She said: "I like sitting there. It's a nice place - when there are flowers there.聽
鈥淸But] I really don't want to sit there if nothing's growing there."
Ottaway decided to go ahead with her planting initiative about a week after she emailed the town in mid-June to ask what she could do to make that space look better and hadn't heard anything.
"I heard that there were some people planting elsewhere in the municipal flower beds, so I decided to do the same,鈥� she said.
鈥淚 heard in other communities and cities people are mowing lawns on soccer fields, for example, because the upkeep of municipal-owned property is lacking because of budget cuts, layoffs and other decisions.鈥�
Ottaway, who is a member of the Jasper Local Food Society, pulled a load of flowers and vegetables behind her bike to the site on June 25.
Then she got busy planting chives, rhubarb, day lilies and delphiniums - some from her own supply, and some from other gardeners.
As she worked, Ottaway said, "A lady came by, was very encouraging, and she said she'd be back with some plants. I got water from the flower shop."
She said she is happy the flowerbed has been brightened again, and is looking for more donations of plants because it isn't quite full yet.
"Flowers make us feel good. We need these things," she said.
Asked if planting vegetables could attract wildlife, Ottaway said, "Chives, rhubarb - by experience, none of these are interesting to elk."
Ottaway said if the plants stay there until the fall, roots will develop and she will put them in pots and offer them to people.
鈥淩educe-reuse-recycle," she said.
