Submitted by Karen Still

Spring is here and the Gulf Shores Beautification Board is looking for a bed: A flowerbed full of beautiful colors. Members will be searching for businesses in our city that have outstanding garden landscapes.

During the blooming season, the Beautification Board will give Beautification Awards monthly for colorful new plantings at Gulf Shores businesses. No form to fill out to enter, just get those flowerbeds ready and your business might be the one to receive this recognition. And please check out the nice plants at the newly painted Adult Activity Center as part of the city’s renovation.

February was a rewarding month for Gulf Shores Beautification Board. On Valentine’s Day, Mayor Robert Craft presented the board with the Arbor Day Proclamation. To date, this group has received the Tree City USA Award (24 times), the Sterling Tree City USA Award for 10 years of involvement, and the Tree City Growth Award nine times.

This year’s Arbor Day was the most beautiful in several years as Gulf Shores residents lined up early to receive their trees. Cliff Collings, with the City of Gulf Shores, secured nine varieties of trees in gallon containers. Coordinator for this year’s Arbor Day Celebration was Beautification Board secretary Carolyn Brown who with the help of board members and others handed out nearly 800 trees. The six- to eight-foot tall white crape myrtle trees were an added extra made possible through the Meyer Foundation given in honor of George C. Meyer.

A week before the event, Beautification Board members met at the George C. Meyer Performing Arts Center to support city employees as they planted a few of these trees to add to the landscape.

For information on the Gulf Shores Beautification Board, go to www.gulfshoresal.gov , under News and Events, click on Beautification Board.