In the early 1980’s the downtown core of Weyburn underwent renovations to improve and rejuvenate the area. Sidewalks were replaced and large permanent concrete planters formed part of the construction. The streets were lined with deciduous trees and the planters were mass planted with both deciduous trees and coniferous shrubs. The downtown area really benefited from these improvements and it is now hard to imagine what it looked like prior to the reconstruction.
The coniferous shrub material located in the planters had begun to decline as a result of overcrowding, exposure to road salt, and repeated trimming and pruning necessary to improve visibility and line of sight for both pedestrian and vehicle traffic. The overall appearance of the planters had declined and City Council directed the Parks Department to formulate a solution to address the problem.
In the fall of 2005 The City removed all the coniferous shrub material and made plans to replace it with annual flowers in 2006, at least on an interim basis. The
Communities in Bloom Committee suggested that an adoption program be implemented in an effort to increase community pride and involvement in beautifying the downtown. City Council endorsed the suggestion and provided funds in the 2016 budget for its implementation.
- Each participant is assigned a downtown planter and their name will appear on a sign indicating they are “sponsoring and planting” this planter.
- The participant is responsible for the purchase (with an $100.00 City-provided voucher from Prairie Greenhouse) of the flowers. The voucher is considered “seed money” and participants are encouraged to plant additional flowers of their own.
- Vouchers for the flowers can be picked up at the City Public Works & Parks Workshop at 55-16th
- Participants are responsible for the planting of the flowers and maintenance of the planter for the summer. The City will water as needed.
- The City recommends waiting until the May Long weekend to plant flowers, as the planters may not be tilled up by then. But, weather permitting, planting is up to the participant’s discretion.
- Due to the hot, dry, and windy weather we often experience in southeast Saskatchewan, the City strongly recommends planting hardy varieties that can withstand these conditions. This includes plants such as petunias, marigolds, and dusty miller. We strongly discourage the use of flowers such as pansies or other plants that cannot withstand full sun. Please consult the greenhouse if you are unsure of what varieties may be suitable.
For more information on the Adopt-A-Planter Program, please contact Public Works at (306) 848-3290.