Culter in Bloom

CULTER IN BLOOM Planting pride in the community

NEW PLANTERS

The ten new "wood effect" plant containers, which were located on North Deeside in June, have been arousing much favourable comment. Aberdeen City Council (ACC) bought them for us on the understanding that we would stock and look after them. Our committee supplied and planted the geraniums and lobelia, and kindly neighbours have provided the essential regular watering service. ACC also provided cypresses where safety sight lines permitted, but these have not all survived the dry spell. We have relocated the white containers to the old railway station, where they now adorn the platform. With the new additions CIB helpers now maintain over 30 containers in the village.

MORE BASKETS

The number of hanging baskets on the lamp posts, which we "rent" from ACC, has been expanded from 18 to 24 this year. Thanks to sponsorship from local businesses and organisations - and some help from local councillor Pam MacDonald - they now extend along the entire commercial area of the village, from the Hair Salon to the Leuchar Bar. We've noticed that baskets have also appeared on lamp posts in Cults for the first time this summer - imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!

The baskets on our lamp posts are complemented by some colourful displays on the walls of private homes, including ten in our "Adopt a basket for £10" scheme, which was taken up by

public-spirited NDR residents in the central area - and also by the local police. Our photo shows one of the "foster parents" Ethel Morrison with the basket which we provided. We hope to expand this scheme to other areas next year, and possibly to include some floral "mangers" on boundary walls, to improve the appearance of North Deeside Road for passers-by.

AWARD ENTRY

The Aberdeen in Bloom Officer, Steven Mitchell, attends our meetings and has been very helpful to us. On his advice we decided this year to enter the Neighbourhood Awards scheme of the Royal Horticultural Society. This is non competitive - there are no outright prizewinners, but RHS judges assess what each community group has done, offer suggestions for improvement and award certificates of various grades. We'll let you know in the next issue what they say about us!

PLANS NEED PEOPLE.

We still have plans in plenty for new ways to make Culter more beautiful - watch out for developments at both ends of the village, and maybe also in Coronation Road. We appreciate all the help we get from sponsors and workers, but the more help we get, the more we can achieve. Everyone, with or without a garden, can help Culter in Bloom in some way. If you want to learn about or to join our group, we'll see you at the Flower Show, the `Your Culter' exhibition, you can look us up on the Internet on www.culterinbloom.org.uk or you can contact our Secretary Catherine Lacy on 733710.

Erik Stien Convener

Ethel Morrison of North Deeside Road with her `adopted' basket from Culter in Bloom.