Official website of the Bridge of Flowers

  Significantly, 2010 is the second year of the Friends of the Bridge, and the first time there has been
an opportunity for “renewed” support. We thank individuals and businesses who renewed their support and those who appear in this annual list for the first time. Friends of the Bridge, together with volunteers in the garden, play an essential role in renewing the
beauty and bloom of the Bridge of Flowers
garden each year. Just as volunteers cultivate the
soil for a better plant foundation, Friends of the
Bridge cultivate the soil of a more secure
financial base. Just as volunteers plant annuals
to extend the bloom, Friends of the Bridge plant
the seeds that extend our financial capacity to
renovate aboveground features and provide
educational outreach, and just as volunteers
support and enrich the work of the Bridge
gardeners, so too, do Friends of the Bridge.
Here are some of the highlights from 2010,
made possible by this support:

• Visitors: People visited the Bridge of Flowers in record
numbers again this year - 36,053 people from 50 states and 93 foreign countries signed the visitor
books, up roughly 5 ½ percent from last year.
• Structural Issues: For some years now, people have been noticing small cracks in the Bridge itself.
This year, the Shelburne Falls Fire District, Bridge of Flowers Preservation, Inc., The Bridge of
Flowers Committee, as well as leaders from both towns began the formal process of assessing and evaluating these issues. The road to repair will take time and careful evaluation, and the journey started with willingness and cooperation, experience and expertise.
• Classroom to the Community: Students of all ages appreciated the natural learning environment
provided by The Bridge of Flowers. Kindergartners learned how to stimulate plant growth by pruning
plants in their classroom and transplanting to the Bridge. Fourth and fifth-graders gained a bit of local
history and planted annuals on the Bridge. High School students were responsible for Bridge Dahlias in
their early stages. Because we were able to label more plants this year, people can now learn more
about the plants on the Bridge.
• Renovation: The sign-in booth on the Shelburne side was replaced by another lovely and functional
piece of art by artist-blacksmith Bob Compton. This piece completes the effort to stylistically unite
both sign-in booths and the main sign, an idea originally proposed by designer Grey Marchese.
  At the end of this season, a new gate was created and installed on the Buckland side by artist
  John Sendelbach. The gate contains a replica of the #10 Trolley and references the surrounding
  hills. Businesses and “commuters” particularly appreciated that this fun and functional piece of art
  allowed some post-season access across the Bridge.
 
  There is a new “rules sign” on the Shelburne side, courtesy of artist Jo-Anne Sherburne.
  Noticeably more effective in getting visitors to comply with rules, this sign is clearly in keeping
  with the beauty of the garden since visitors are frequently seen taking pictures of it.