Photos take at Centennial Park of the 2017 Holland, Michigan Tulip Dig
Holland, Mi- Several hundred people gathered in three local parks in Holland, Michigan on Saturday morning May 20, 2017 to participate in the annual Tulip Dig.
With over 200,000 tulips to dig up between Centennial Park,Window on the Waterfront, and Windmill Island Gardens, participants needed to bring their own 5-gallon buckets, digging tools, and pay the cost of $10 per bucket to take part in the dig. Contributions will support the city’s entry to compete in the prestigious Communities in Bloom International Competition in 2017.
“I have an acre of land that is all gardens, and the tulips love it,” said David Brower of Zeeland, Michigan who was partaking in his third dig. “Ten bucks for a bucket of tulips bulbs, man.”
With one bucket filled, and working on his second, Rick Kassmeyer, who is new to Holland, was preparing his new house he and his wife are building by planting some tulips.
Lou Wallin along with his wife Barbara of Holland bought their home about four years ago, and only have one single tulip at their house. They were at the dig on Saturday to get some some tulips to put around the house so they could “fit” in with the Holland theme by planting more tulips.
“It’s a great deal for the community, it lets people get some bulbs and also gives back to the community,” Wallin said. “It is a blessing being out here on a beautiful day doing fun things with the one I love.”
Holland Mayor Nancy DeBoer, also a member of the non-profit Holland In Bloom was on hand at Centennial Park, assisting the volunteers that were aiding the diggers.
“This (event) is what we generated as a committee for a way to get people thinking about flowers and putting more flowers around the community,” said DeBoer.
The “Holland in Bloom” website celebrates the “pride planted in our community”, highlighting significant accomplishments, and promotes civic beautification efforts. “We encourage the integration of beautification, historic preservation, and environmental efforts into the fabric of our community as we move forward.”
The City of Holland has participated for the past six years in the national America in Bloom competition. America in Bloom (AIB) is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting nationwide beautification programs, personal and community involvement through the use of flowers, plants, trees, and other environmental and lifestyle enhancements. Holland has received a 5-out-of-5-bloom rating in each of the years participating in the competition. The city has also won the top award in the population category for five years (2011-2015), and was awarded an Outstanding Achievement Award in one of the six criteria categories in each of the past six years. This year Holland in Bloom accepted the invitation to participate in the Communities in Bloom International Competition.
If you missed this year’s dig, look next May on the website for the Tulip Dig 2018’s date to be named.
Media Works of John Rothwell 