The America in Bloom committee hopes that you will get spring fever and walk in Shiner Community Park to see what flowering surprises spring has in store for us!  The paved walking path has many new trees that were planted last year.  The driveway back to the City Maintenance Building has new trees, shrubs and ornamental grasses.  The undergrowth of the groves of trees in the park has been cleared and now have benches and/or picnic tables for your relaxing and bird watching pleasure.  There are stretching and workout sites for the serious jogger and runner.  The two intersection areas along the walking path by the baseball field and the tennis courts have gardens that are officially designated as National Wildlife Backyard Habitat sites.  Are you looking for something new for your yard?  Just go for a walk and get some ideas!!!   
Currently at Shiner Community Park, the two flower gardens/habitats are a mixture of native Indiana flowers, grasses, and plants.  They are a variety of heights and colors.  Once they start springing up, there will be something in bloom or seeding every month until frost.  The seed pods and flower heads are left thru winter time for the birds.  Here is a partial list of plants in the habitats that attract birds and butterflies:  bee balm, butterfly weed, black eyed susans, purple prairie clover, tall bluestem, side-oats grama, coreopsis,  New England Aster, Rough blazing star, cardinal flower, purple coneflower, and yellow coneflower.
Since the daisy is the official city flower, the AIB committee is hoping to have several  daisy gardens around the city and on one of the hillsides in the community park.  Would you be willing to share a clump of daisies from your yard to help us get it started?  If so, please contact Janie Eldridge at 438-1230 with your name, phone number, and address, and an AIB committee member will come dig up your generous flowering donation!!  Help us make our city a beautiful, relaxing place to stroll through on those quiet summer evenings along our beautiful Ohio River.