Is it true there are fewer flowers on the bridges that span over U.S. 31? If so, why?
The flower baskets you see spanning over U.S. 31 (Meridian) and Keystone Parkway are placed so that water does not drip onto the cars below. This is why there are sometimes four poles, and sometimes six on the U.S. 31 interchanges.
As for where, within the City, the Street Department hangs baskets, it’s typically been where there is new construction. As we get new light poles in the heart of downtown, more baskets are added. We currently have over 1,000 baskets up.
Sometimes, you may see the watering truck out even when it has just rained. The reason that happens is because the crew has been instructed to check the baskets to make sure the water reservoir is topped off during the route. Sometimes it doesn’t rain enough, or it rains on only part of the route, which is why they check them all. As well, the water contains a bloom-boosting flower fertilizer.
For more background information on our flower baskets, read this past post.
Authored by Laura Campbell, Sue Finkam, Kevin Rider, Jeff Worrell, Sue Finkam, Bruce Kimball, Miles Nelson, Anthony Green and Adam Aasen.