When you think of Main Street Bluffton in the spring and summer do petunias come to mind? While it’s February, it’s time to stop what you are doing and think about smelling the flowers.

According to Susie and Steve Stratton of Stratton Greenhouses, "This will be the seventh year for providing the potted plants on Main Street. We appreciate providing this service to the community and are grateful for all the sponsors and contributors. We have received countless comments about how the plants make the downtown more attractive. 

“In fact, we have received phone calls from several other communities asking how this program works.  We hope this year that once again, interested community members can assure that this beautification program continues."

To make this happen, according to the Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce, Steve and Susie are asking for contributions to keep the program going.  This year the sponsorships will be $100 per pot.  However, any amount is appreciated and will be used for plantings.

The 24-inch flowering pots are placed along Main Street from the Bluffton Public Library to Jefferson Street.  In addition, several replacement pots are created in the event that one may need to be replaced during the summer. 

Last year was quite hard on the pots with the June 28 storm.  “Thank you to those of you that put the pots back up on the sidewalks while we were trying to keep the greenhouses together,” said Susie.

The Strattons have seen the program through from start to finish each year and have provided all the costs until 2011 when they asked for community contributions.

“We tried to keep the cost the same, however our costs keep going up for everything from dirt, to fertilizer to gasoline.  That is why we are asking for $100 per sponsorship in 2013,” they said.

"One of the hidden costs in keeping the planters beautiful is the fertilizer that we add to the water every third watering," Susie said.  “This past season we did 75 waterings from the middle of May until the beginning of October. 

“We also added some different pots with the miscellaneous contributions we received.  There were two giant pots located by the railroad tracks on State Route 103 as well as in Ideal Image’s parking lot on East College. 

“We also added the fall pots in October.  We have had people say that they would like to see more of the fall plantings on Main Street,” said Susie.  “Another nice addition would be lamppost hayracks on a few of the light posts.  We use every penny we receive to put into plantings.”

"Most days we need to be uptown ready to go before 7 a.m. to beat the traffic and parking as we are pulling a trailer with drums filled with water,” she said.

"We give each planter five gallons of water per watering. We often get asked why we don't have a water wagon. We like using five-gallon buckets because we have a uniform measure of water and we can control how quickly the water is being dispersed. When the plants are young, a hose blows a lot of the dirt around."

Strattons will soon place the orders for the 2013 Main Street plants. Depending upon the weather, the flowerpots will be placed downtown from early to mid-May.

"We like to have them in place for the arts and crafts show," said Steve. "They will remain in place until fall. “

This year Strattons will once again recognize those who have sponsored a flowerpot by putting a 3-by-5 inch slate plant marker in each pot with the person's name on the marker.

Contributions may be used as a:
• Memorial contribution

• In Honor of contribution
• Just your name
•Or you may remain anonymous.

"You just need to let us know when you make your contribution. The deadline to contribute is Saturday, April 13.  Contributions made after that time will be used for additional plantings in the fall or to create extra pots around town. "We are happy to provide the service and hope that the community will help us keep it growing," said Susie.

Persons with specific questions about the project may contact Stratton Greenhouses or the Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce at [email protected]

Contributions to the Flowerpot Beautification Program may be made to:
Stratton Greenhouses

9915 Lincoln Highway

Bluffton, OH 45817

All contributions will be used for the replacing, planting and maintaining the planters.