As summer approaches and flowers begin to bloom, people eagerly head outdoors to enjoy the warmer weather. For the past three years, the LakewoodAlive team has helped brighten the community through its Blossoms Flower Box program.

The initiative provides professionally designed flower boxes placed in front of storefronts throughout Lakewood. The arrangements are created through a partnership with Lakewood Garden Center, which designs colorful displays using individually placed flowers.

Since 2020, the Blossoms Flower Box program has installed flower boxes along Detroit Avenue during the summer months. What began as a downtown beautification effort later expanded into a citywide initiative. Originally envisioned as a hanging flower box project, the program transitioned to Earth boxes, a more sustainable watering system for flowers.

Jo Higgins, interim executive director of LakewoodAlive, has helped oversee the program’s growth in recent years. Higgins said, “When I joined in 2023, we probably had 30 boxes; now we have 87 this year.”

The organization also partners with Lakewood Garden Center to create and maintain the flower boxes.

Paul Bilyk, who grew up surrounded by gardeners and plant lovers, opened Lakewood Garden Center in 2010. Bilyk said, “The folks at LakewoodAlive were looking for somebody to help out with the program, and they pushed me, and I was happy to help them out.”

Since then, the program has continued to grow while helping beautify the city. Bilyk explained the process behind creating the flower boxes.

“I work with growers who store and plant the boxes, and then we make sure they’re planted appropriately for the side of the street they’ll be on, and then just kind of help get them delivered,” he said.

When deciding where to place the boxes, Bilyk and his team rely on their gardening knowledge. Plants that require more sunlight are placed on the north side of the street, while shade-tolerant plants are positioned on the south side. Although the program only runs from spring through summer, the impact of the flowers lasts beyond the season.

Volunteers also play a vital role in keeping the project running. They help install the flower boxes and maintain them throughout the summer. Christina McCallum has served as a lead volunteer for the program since 2015. She helps water the boxes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and “as the season progresses, I pinch off dead flowers to encourage more flowers to bloom,” said McCallum.

The volunteer-based system highlights the dedication of Lakewood residents to improving the community. McCallum said, “I value that businesses want the flowers, that people give up time to volunteer, others fill in when regular volunteers take trips. The Root has supplied us with empty milk jugs to hold water.”

Community support has become a major part of the Blossoms Flower Box program. Through his business, Lakewood Garden Center, Bilyk has partnered with LakewoodAlive to help strengthen the initiative. Bilyk said, “Anything that’s going to help bring plants and beautiful things to the community is certainly important.”

Through flowers and volunteer efforts, LakewoodAlive’s Blossoms Flower Box program continues to bring people together by adding color to storefronts and streets throughout the city. The initiative not only beautifies the community but also encourages residents, businesses and volunteers to work together to maintain welcoming public spaces.

Higgins said, “The goal is always to contribute to a more welcoming and vibrant commercial district, which continues to have that community.”