Eight years ago, in the Spring of 2012, the Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and community business leaders had a vision to beautify the community in celebration of Ellsworth’s Sesquicentennial. Local company Fairmount Minerals responded to a request with a large grant, and soon many other local businesses followed in donating to the project.

Since the campaign’s start, the Chamber has overseen maintenance of these projects, even though the cost gets higher every year.

The hanging baskets are sourced from Harrington’s Greenhouse. The team at Harrington’s has provided the Chamber with great guidance for how to best water and fertilize the baskets to ensure the plants are well-fed and last into the fall season.

The supplies for the brick and stone planters come from Reuvers’ Nursery.

In the early years of the project, the flowers were watered

Photo by

Jack McLoone.

by volunteers. However, it was realized that keeping the flowers looking fresh is a major commitment. To retain their beauty, the baskets and planters need to be watered and fertilized daily. After it became difficult to find volunteers to commit to that, the Chamber approached the Village with the idea of a joint partnership to hire someone for the maintenance of the planters.

Tom Lawton has been a part of the watering team for a few years, and this year Tom committed to working the entire season. Rain or shine, you can see Tom watering the flowers almost every day.

“The commitment, time and attention Tom puts into the effort is evident in the beauty of the planters. We’ve had a few periods of intense heat, but the flowers still look beautiful and fresh!” Chamber Management Team member Kim Beebe admonished.

The Chamber accepts donations all year for those willing to support the effort. Checks can be sent to the Chamber or donations are accepted online at: www.ellsworthchamber.com/ beautification.

Journal file photo.

Tom Lawton keeps the flowers looking fresh in downtown Ellsworth. Lawton works tirelessly all summer long to make sure Ellsworth’s colorful plantings look great.

A couple of the many flower baskets that adorn light poles throughout downtown Ellsworth.