Lilacs grow in Westport

WESTPORT | The color purple will now be blooming along sections of Main Street every spring in the Town of Westport. The Westport-Wadhams Community Alliance (WWCA) paid for the recent planting of a total of 30 bushes of lilacs, which are close enough together to eventually grow into hedges, along four sections of Main Street (Route 9) in Westport. Tena Perrelli, co-chairman of the Flowers Plus Committee of the WWCA, says one of the intentions of the purple blossoms is to beautify Westport. "It establishes a uniform look when people drive into town, so it announces they have arrived. And it reminds people that they're in town and time to slow down" for the safety of pedestrians near the retail establishments. A native species of Southeastern Europe and Eastern Asia, the lilacs in Westport will bloom annually in mid-May and the flowers will last until early June. Perrelli says another intention of the planting of the purple flowers is to attract tourism, activity, and business to Westport during a time when it is lacking, before the busier summer season beginning in late June. With the assistance of volunteers, the shrubs were planted in front of the Westport Lakeside Motel located at 80 Champlain Avenue; the intersection of Main and Liberty Streets; and another further south on the east side of Route 22 before Worman Road. Mulch is surrounding the base of the plants. Perrelli says this year's plantings are just one phase of this project, with additional lilac hedges to be planted next year. Officials are seeking landowners along Main Street and Champlain Avenue in Westport, and Route 22 in Wadhams who will permit the plantings across the front of their property near the road. It is free for the landowner and the WWCA will plant them professionally. The WWCA will dispatch a professional gardener yearly to prune the hedge. Landowners are responsible for watering, weeding, and refreshing the mulch if needed in the spring. Interested landowners seeking additional information can write to the Flowers Plus Committee at FlowersPlusWestportNY@Gmail.com. Perrelli says another reason for the plantings is officials are considering holding a lilac festival in a few years. The Westport-Wadhams Community Alliance depends on donations, fundraising efforts, and grants to fund its projects. To donate to the non-profit WWCA, visit GoWestportNY.com, hover over alliance, and click on donate.

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Lilacs grow in Westport

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