PATTEN, Maine — On Saturday morning in late May, 13 National Honor Society students from Katahdin Middle-High School gathered at the home of Rae Bates and David Michaud along with their advisor Rowena Harvey and Cindy Lawler, a local volunteer, to fill 20 flower planters with geraniums, petunias, and vinca vines.
These planters were then placed beneath flags, where possible, along Main Street where they will remain until Labor Day.
This is the ninth year of the project although the project was not completed last summer due to the pandemic. Members of the Green Valley Association (GVA) water the planters during the week for the summer months. LouAnn Rogan from GVA’s Community Learning Center coordinates the watering and arranges for the storage of the planters during the winter months.
National Honor Society students from Katahdin Middle-High School continued their annual tradition of planting flowers along Patten’s Main Street. Helping the students get the flowers ready is Rae Bates (center) before they are transported to Patten’s Main Street.
(Courtesy of Rae Bates)
“The GVA residents garner a number of positive comments each season as they carry out the watering and dead heading of the planters,” said Rae Bates. “The planters enhance the appearance of the town and would not be there without the support of local citizens and businesses.”
Some people donate money to the project as the planters make the town more attractive while others donate in memory of loved ones. The cost for filling the planters has been $35 per planter in the first eight years of the project, but increased to $42.58 this year as there have been so many increased costs.
