While wandering downtown Fort Collins this summer, you may have noticed the abundance of freshly potted flowers and plants. You can thank the Fort Collins Parks Department for those colorful displays! Each year, the Park Dept. team refreshes the flowers in Downtown Fort Collins through their Flourishing FoCo project, sourcing flowers and plants from local growers and designing the landscapes with sustainability and community in mind.
About 45,000 flowers and greenery are planted each summer by Parks staff, spanning 270 different species. Last year, the project established the “Pollinator Parkway,” transforming downtown into a haven for bees and butterflies alike by adding perennials like the Sapphire Blue Aster, Alaska Shasta Daisy and more to the mix.
Flowers are sourced locally from nearby greenhouse, Plantorium. A few common species of flowers included in displays are Dahlias, Petunias, Coleus, Calibrachoa, Petchoa, Zinnia, Strawflower, Canna, Verbena, and Gomphrena.
The Parks Department works diligently to provide and maintain the flower beds in Downtown Fort Collins. The beautiful and memorable displays take a great deal of planning, partnerships with local organizations, sustainable and environmentally friendly efforts, and provide a sense of place for the Fort Collins community…