Marigold Mania BLOSSOMS
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NEGAUNEE -- Alliteration aside, Marigold Mania adds a lot to Negaunee's Miners Park. Not only does the park become more colorful as the flowers bloom, local elementary schoolchildren literally have a hand in the project.
Fourth graders from Lakeview Elementary School brought marigolds they nurtured from seed at school to the park on Tuesday, planting them in various parts of the park.
While holding their carefully grown flowers, students walked from their school to the park. There they planted the marigolds in special sections.
Anna Mattson, an organizer from the Negaunee Beautification Committee, led Tuesday's event, which is an annual undertaking. The project had a specific plan, with each section having a yellow "caution" tape.
"We can't have them running all over, and any part that they're planting has that type of a setup," Mattson said. "They're kind of on scavenger hunt. They're looking for pegs, little sticks, and that's where they're going to put a plant."
The project has a greater meaning beyond putting flowers in the ground.
"I like to make them realize this is a partnership," Mattson said, which is for the community at the kids' level.
It doesn't end with the plantings.
"They come back in the summer, and I'm here, and I see these kids, and they're running over (and saying) -- 'Did you plant here?'" said Mattson, who noted one youngster's grandmother even came to see the flowers. "It's not just a 5-minute-and-done thing."
Marigold Mania is a learning experience for her as well.
"Every year I learn something, and this year I learned that they have to have a full four weeks to grow," Mattson said.
Fourth grader Tanner Thompson took part in Tuesday's event.
"It really helps the environment and just makes it fun for the kids," Tanner said.
The planting was a little tougher than some of the kids might have thought. It wasn't easy for every student to pull out the plant from the small pot, plus Layne Nelson at first thought he could put the marigolds in the ground with his bare hands.
Then he asked for a tool.
Mattson said she will water the marigolds in the summer, but invited the students to come to the park and watch the flowers as they grow -- and water them if they wish.
"Come back anytime," she told the youngsters.
Christie Mastric can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 550. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net.