Roll out the barrel

John Shank
Posted 4/30/18

It won’t be long before barrels blooming with plants and flowers will be on display for residents and visitors to enjoy in downtown Rochelle and at businesses all around town.

Downtown Rochelle Association leaders, sponsors and volunteers are coordinating the Blooming Blossom project for the second straight year and are turning it into a contest as interest grows in the community.

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Roll out the barrel

Posted

ROCHELLE — It won’t be long before barrels blooming with plants and flowers will be on display for residents and visitors to enjoy in downtown Rochelle and at businesses all around town.
Downtown Rochelle Association leaders, sponsors and volunteers are coordinating the Blooming Blossom project for the second straight year and are turning it into a contest as interest grows in the community.
“We have 19 whiskey barrels in the downtown area right now, but we are expecting to add at least another 12 barrels and hopefully many more if we can get sponsors to tend to them,” said DRA chairperson Naomi Baldwin. “It is a lot of work and time to maintain them all, so we are turning the project into a fun contest with businesses throughout town participating.”
The curb appeal project began as a discussion at a DRA meeting in late 2016, and with the help of Rochelle Area Chamber of Commerce director Peggy Friday and many volunteers, it took off last summer.
Lee Prunty and Tim Bruns secured and brought home a large number of barrels from the Goose Island Brewery, several were plants provided by Heather Rowland of Ball Seeds and planting help was given Leslie and Reed Schwenger of the Rochelle Garden Club.

Donations for the project have been received by Big R, Colonial Flowers, Bright Farms, Schermerhorn Ornamental Plasterwork Services and the City of Rochelle.
“We received a lot of volunteer help to get this underway last year in preparing, cleaning and lining the barrels. We also received donations from several local businesses and organizations, so now we want to see others take some ownership in planting and caring for a barrel,” Baldwin explained. “I think it’s going to be a fun for the entire business community to get involved.”
Contest details
Baldwin said barrel sponsorship forms are available at Colonial Flowers or interested business representatives can call her at 815-562-8101 to register and receive a barrel for planting.
Each participating business sponsor may plant and decorate the barrels as they wish with their own special touches and with hopes of being rewarded in August when winners will be announced at the Lincoln Highway Heritage Festival.
“We are hoping members of the Rochelle Garden Club will judge the barrels and I’m sure there will be some really neat designs,” Baldwin added. “We ask sponsors to plant, water and care for their design throughout the summer and they will all receive a plaque for their participation and efforts.”