Central Point volunteers plant daffodil bulbs to beautify their town

Oct. 25—A few of the city's more die-hard parks officials, some community volunteers and at least one super enthusiastic Boy Scout braved rain and mid-50s temperatures Saturday to ensure bright yellow patches of flowers emerge from the soil come spring.

Eight-year-old Rowan Hummel didn't mind brushing raindrops out of his eyes Saturday at William Mott Memorial Park. In fact, as one of the seven or eight helpers who turned out for the latest of the city's "Plant 1,000 Daffodils" days, the boy was more focused on the task at hand.

City parks staff used a special tool to dig "lots and lots of holes!" Rowan said.

Rowan added fertilizer to each hole, and his mom, Jessy Hummel, who also is her son's pack leader, tossed a daffodil bulb into each hole. Dad, Mark Juber, covered each bulb with fresh dirt.

Hummel said she signed up for the plantings as a chance for her son to do community service and for a fun family project — and to contribute to community beautification.

Central Point parks staff started the effort last year and decided to expand this year with more planting dates that residents could sign up for.

"It was a fun project, and it's something that our younger Scouts are actually able to do," said Hummel.

"So many projects are not really geared toward the younger kids. It's always nice to find a project that people of all ages are able to help with. We planted bulbs in front of the sign for the park, so we could remember which ones we planted because he's excited to come back this spring and see where they've come up."

Eden Foster, a parks volunteer who spearheaded the daffodil project, said it was exciting to see volunteers brave inclement weather to help plant bulbs. The city plans a half-dozen planting dates during fall and winter.

Current president of the city's Parks and Recreation Board, Foster and her partner, Jayne Garland, came up with the idea to plant daffodils all over the city four years ago, and the idea picked up speed last spring

Foster said community members were ready to "get back together" after pandemic restrictions."

"We had suggested we start a city beautification project with daffodil bulbs maybe four or five years ago. We thought it would be fun, and maybe the city could be known for having daffodils everywhere," Foster said.

"It was slow going at first. Nobody took to it the first couple years. Then COVID hit. Last year, when things were getting back to normal, we felt like we needed a way to both raise funds for the Parks and Recreation Foundation but also a way to start building community again."

Its first "official" year of community-supported planting, Foster said, yielded some 130 volunteers and 1,700 bulbs planted in five public areas in 2021, including parks and city streetscapes and planting areas.

Hoping to best last year's tally, Foster said she's aiming for 2,500 this year.

Community sponsors — via bulb donations or funds — include Grange Co-op, Lowe's, Home Depot and a long list of local residents who have sponsored bulb supplies and provided volunteer labor.

"We ask people and businesses to sponsor bulbs at a dollar apiece, which is more than you can buy them for on your own. Some people donate bulbs — Lowe's and Home Depot donated bulbs — but we use the monetary donations to purchase even more from a wholesaler. And anything we raise beyond what our costs are go to the foundation," she said.

"And we ask them to come help us get them in the ground, which is really the fun part."

Foster, who has a background in horticulture education, said it was heartwarming to see kids and families digging and planting these past two weekends, first at Twin Creeks Park and then William Mott Memorial Park.

"I love seeing kids getting dirty, even for an hour to get their hands in the soil and feel a connection to the community and a connection to the earth," she said.

Foster said the bulbs being planted are the type that "naturalize," so they'll multiply with each passing year. She hopes the daffodil theme will be expanded upon with events and other activities, such as some art and poetry contests hosted last year with middle and high school students.

"It's wonderful when they bloom to see them in the parks, but it's also just really great to see everyone come together for the planting part," Foster noted. "It's a wonderful way to get people outdoors again and paying attention to the world around them."

To learn more about the project, see the city daffodil committee webpage at www.centralpointoregon.gov/parksrec/page/plant-thousand-daffodils-2022-23 for details.

Upcoming Saturday planting events are scheduled at 1 p.m. (rain or shine) Oct. 29 at Don Jones Memorial Park, Nov. 5 at Scenic Avenue Fire Station, and Nov. 12 on the west side of Bohnert Park inside Twin Creeks.

Volunteers need only dress for the weather. Tools can be provided.

To donate bulbs to the project, visit the online store, Brent and Becky's Bulbs at bloominbucks.com and designate Central Point Parks and Recreation Foundation as the recipient. The company will donate 25% of all sales back to the Parks and Recreation Foundation.

Reach reporter Buffy Pollock at 541-776-8784 or bpollock@rosebudmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @orwritergal