Cobourg Parks Department have completed the floral clock in Victoria Park for another season.
Workers started on the clock on Monday, but most of the work was done on Tuesday, June 3 with a few additions being done on Wednesday.
Town horticulturalist Rick Cromlish said the floral clock is something town staff take pride creating each year.
This year’s theme was the 50th anniversary of the Victoria Hall Volunteers.
Cromlish said the inside is a pin-wheel design with anywhere from 4,000 to 7,000 begonias around the inside of the clock area with the words “Victoria Hall Volunteers” on the outside of the clock.
“The amount of plants changes from year to year. This one will be a little fewer because there will be wood chips on the outside to make the letters pop out.”
As the clock has had the pin-wheel design previously workers knew how to design it and Cromlish said it’s a popular design for people.
It’s the largest amount of letters around the clock which was a “work in progress” to get them symmetrical on both sides.
Having the summer students each year are a “massive help” in preparing the clock for the summer season.
“Especially if they come back year after year. They get an idea of what this looks like and it requires less instruction. They live to take ownership of this and they have a big hand in all of what we do.”
The floral clock is only one of three in Ontario with the others being located in Guelph and Niagara.
“There isn’t a lot of them around so we take pride in this one.”
“There is an element of preparation and a element actually getting this done which we take great pride in.”
Traditionally throughout the summer, events such as weddings, tourists and local people take photos against the backdrop of the floral clock.
“Hopefully the (Victoria Hall) Volunteers really like this. We always like celebrating those types of things and having those people come and see it. Usually there are a lot of compliments with it and that’s the goal.”
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
