Westport’s Representative Town Meeting (RTM) does not always agree on everything.
That’s the messy part of democracy.
But this morning, members were unanimous: The Minute Man Monument needs more tulips. RTM member Andrew Colabella writes:
Last year, 100 tulips were planted by the Minute Man statue, as part of a beautification project.
The results were eye-popping, colorful and bountiful in beauty.
Blooming tulips.
This year, I decided to expand to 300 tulips.
Many hands made the work lighter, and smarter.
Top: Jimmy Izzo hangs with the Minute Man. Fellow RTM members include (middle, from left): Nancy Kail, Harris Falk, Seth Braunstein. Front: Don O’Day, Andrew Colabella, Kristin Mott Purcell.
The group came armed with shovels, a cordless drill, and donuts.
It was great to see families that biked, drove or walked by. A father and 3 children stopped, and asked to take part. Don O’Day lent a hand (below).
They asked about the history of the Minute Man statue, then posed with H. Daniel Webster’s 1910 sculpture.
With so much help, the work did not take long.
(All photos courtesy of Andrew Colabella)
The 300 tulips from Colorblends in Bridgeport came directly from the Netherlands. They were harvested this past summer.
Westport Hardware donated a bag of grass seed for top dressing, while Thomas Kerrigan of Kerrigan Industries provided a mixture of topsoil and compost.
I want to thank this group of green thumb enthusiasts and caring individuals for helping continue a vision I had a long time ago. It is finally coming to life.
Make sure to look for the tulips in the spring.
Andrew, if you ever venture out of Westport, you, and perhaps others, may want to visit and learn about the original Minute Man statue in a truly historic town, Lexington Massachusetts (Massachusetts is part of New England).
I just added it to my list. Email me! Acolabellartm4@gmail.com (personal) 🙂 hoping to get up there after this election.
Also Kristin Schneeman joined yesterday in a Pop Up Planting of 100 tulips!
Credit is owed where it is due!
Excellent Andrew. I’m curious, what else is on your list?
Please set expectations if you visit. We honor our veterans, our history, we don’t let children, or adults, ‘play’ on one of our nations, treasures.
I have hundreds of Cana Tubers that I can donate to town gardens and or town projects. Contact me for my donation. Richard Fogel Grout Rescue
Might take you up on that offer next year, looking to plant daffodils along the berm parallel of the statue, or the wall outside of Winslow. Still thinking of places, but if you think of one lemme know!
this is so nice!
Andy, thank you for being proactive and working to make this happen. So nice to see everyone in the comments wanting to get involved. How awesome were those kids ???
This is what Westport is all about..people wanting to do some good things. working together, and having fun doing it.
Yes, this is exactly what Westport is all about Jimmy Izzo which is why the Community Gardens need to be saved.
Absolutely, Julie….maybe Tooker even drives by the statue every now and again; though the message may be lost.
Thank you all!!!