Our Town Motueka ponders hanging flower baskets

July 8th, 2011
[by David Armstrong]

A request on Monday by Our Town Motueka for ideas about how to brighten up Motueka has drawn lively discussion from watchers of OTM's Facebook page mainly hanging flower baskets.

The installation of flower baskets, which work so well in Nelson, has had its advocates here for some time and OTM has been working on the idea, "but it's a mission trying to get irrigation sorted as there are so many building owners", said one OTM member. "Unless we could get someone to water them once a day, preferably at night or early morning."

Someone suggested the operator of the litter cart could also do the watering, but it was pointed out that the litter cart isn't being run anymore. That in itself was one of the issues that OTM has been grappling with since Keep Motueka Beautiful is no longer being funded for the 2-hours-a-day service.

"I guess that would mean carting a lot of water around, wrote Jackie Smith. "What about sorting out some banners. I can remember the banners they had up years ago. The kids from the local schools did them. I thought they were great and so many of the children get a buzz that they have their amazing art work around the town. Just a thought."

Tania Fowler added, "How very sad to hear about the guy who did the litter cart, he did a very good job! So if there is no funding for him anymore then we cannot pay anyone to water hanging flower baskets. As we all know, Nelson looks great with theirs hanging outside the majority of their shops. What do they do? Perhaps people who own the business can each water their own?"

The person writing on behalf of Our Town Motueka wrote, "I have spent hours doing research on the Nelson (and other towns) baskets. For the scheme to work, irrigation is key. The ones in Nelson are subsidised by NCC (Nelson City Council) and business owners also sponsor baskets and the whole town has had irrigation set up so that they can be watered twice a day. I guess that's why they look so good. I am still working on it though ... Watch this space."

Readers may offer their own comments using the link below, or Facebook users can contribute on .

Comment by Fred & Sarah Van Kleef:
[Posted 11 July 2011]

Just a little note regarding the flowerbaskets. We at the Patisserie Royale have had hanging baskets for the last 2 or 3 years now, in fact 8 big hanging baskets although we haven't got any at the moment - lack of time etc. We do have an irrigation system running, very simple really.

The one thing you have to bear in mind is the fact that they will get vandalised from time to time. It might be the occasional one but it is a bit disheartening. Anyway, Motueka will look a lot better for it if EVERYBODY does there bit!

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