Church group decorates the square with flowers
By Tracy Ouellette
SLN Staff
Every spring, a small group of gardeners from a local church spruce up the East Troy village square with flowerbeds overflowing with colorful annuals on each corner of Village Square Park.
The lush, vibrant beds, planted by the Flowers on the Square Mission is run by the Mary’s Garden Group of St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, seem to almost appear overnight and serve as more than just a bright spot in the village.
“It’s really about prayer and community,” Tracey Gross said. “We’re hoping that folks will want to join us for Prayer on the Square at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays after school lets out on June 7.
“That’s our mission, we meet on the square each Wednesday, fix up the flowers a bit, and then pray at each corner of the square. Whatever’s on someone’s heart – big national events, our kids, the government, anything really. We just pray for what needs prayer.”
Turning to prayer can help people through troubling times when they are trying to find a direction to turn to. With religion being such a massive part of people’s lives in certain communities, the use of spiritual healthcare can be considered to be a shining light in the darkness for those who want to base their healthcare on their faith and have prayer supporting their lifestyle. Church groups such as this, care for their community and want to pray to help them and others through anything.
The garden group will be planting this year’s crop of hope at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 19.
“Anyone who wants to join us is welcome,” Gross said. “People who want to come out and get their hands in the dirt are always welcome.”
To raise funds for the flowers, the group at St. Peter’s asks for monetary donations from the church members starting in March/April. Based on the amount of donations, the garden group creates a “flower-scape” with the help of the folks at Bowers Produce in East Troy. Bowers Produce discounts the price of the flowers for the church’s mission; which ends up running in the $300 to $400 range. Home Depot in Mukwonago has also donated fertilizer for the flowers since 2012.
In mid-May, after the East Troy Public Works employees prepare the eight planting beds and provide the mulch, the group gathers to plant the 200 to 250 individual flowers. With many hands involved, the task is usually accomplished in less than an hour.
The group also purchases and maintains the flowers for the Veteran’s Memorial on the square with the help of donations from the East Troy American Legion.
The garden group members take turns watering the plants every week, sometimes daily when the weather gets really hot.
Gross said the whole experience, from the fundraising to the planting to the watering is a spiritual experience for the group members who find joy in serving the community and brightening the downtown square.
“We all agree that we leave a better person for doing so,” she said.
A bit of history
“This mission actually started 20-some years ago at Valley View Community Church,” Gross said. “This tiny church, that meets at the middle school, began this as a way to bring awareness of God’s beautiful Earth.”
In 2012, Mary’s Garden Group of St. Peter’s in East Troy took over planting and maintaining the flowers on the village square.
The St. Peter’s group took over when it learned the Valley View church member planting and caring for the flowers for about 20 years couldn’t do it anymore.
“Although her heart wanted to continue the mission, her body was telling her to give the responsibility and privilege to another,” Gross said. “It has been our pleasure to continue their mission which has become a tradition for the past 25 years.”
Donations can be sent to St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, 1975 Beulah Ave., East Troy, WI 53120.
