Volunteers from the Marquette Beautification and Restoration Committee plant hundreds of flowers along the southern entrance of Marquette on Saturday for Petunia Pandemonium. (Journal photo by Antonio Anderson)

MARQUETTE – Petunia Pandemonium has reached its 40th anniversary and the efforts behind it again see Marquette become a little more colorful. The Marquette Beautification and Restoration Committee along with plenty of volunteers planted hundreds of flowers on Saturday across the city of Marquette but most notably along the southern U.S. 41 towards Harvey.

“40 years ago, this entryway into Marquette was abandoned gas stations and weeds (waist high) by this time of the year,” said MBRC Chair Barb Kelly. “It was a mess, it was unattractive and it was not a fitting entryway into a beautiful city.”

Petunia Pandemonium was a way to beautify Marquette and provide a flowery entrance into the city.

“We are still going strong,” said Kelly. “It has won all kinds of awards from on the state level … I get phone calls from people all over the country asking me what flowers we use and how we do it.”

Nearly 300 seventh graders from Bothwell Middle School came and volunteered Friday morning, planting half a road’s length of flowers. The students were treated to doughnuts from Huron Mountain Bakery. Pepsi Company provided beverages for the picnic on Saturday, where volunteers were also treated to pizza. The MBRC bought the flowers from Nagelkirk in Harvey, and the soil from Mares Z Doats. As well as providing financial support, the city of Marquette provides road closures during the work.

“We have over 100 members (in the MBRC),” Kelly said, “and many of them come out to help this project. It’s a whole community event.”

Those interested in joining the MBRC can visit its website at www.mqtbeautification.org/members.

Antonio Anderson can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 550. His email address is aanderson@miningjournal.net.