Many times there are beautiful things in our midst that we may not even see due to circumstances beyond our control.
Examples include the beautiful flowers on Blossom Boulevard and the flower baskets lining Division, River, and Washington streets. There’s no doubt about it: they were prettier than ever this year. Kudos to the City of Manistee and the volunteers for weeding, watering and caring for it over the summer.
In my book, that’s not a bad way to introduce our community to other areas around the state.
However, when it came to flowers this year, there were some “uncontrollable circumstances” that played a role. The summer of 2023 in Manistee may be forever remembered for the year of bridge repairs and therefore detours that take drivers on different routes other than the ones they normally traverse at this time of year.
One night, during my daily “walk,” I decided to see what the bridge construction looked like from the south side of the bridge. As I walked south on US 31 from River Street, I was struck by how beautiful the Blossom Boulevard flowers were in that area.
The petunias in the area between River Street and 1st Street looked amazing and were well maintained in terms of weeding and watering.
But what saddened me was that there was something missing from the sea of beautiful colors lining the road: cars full of people.
During other years, this section of highway is one of the busiest roads in this area filled with cars moving in both directions full of locals, tourists, and people passing through our community. In fact, the night I was there, only two cars passed me between River and First Streets.
That’s because vehicles coming into town on US 31 from the south were all diverted onto First Street so they could eventually cross the Manistee River Canal on the Maple Street Bridge. What people missed in those vehicles was the unparalleled color rendering.
As I continued walking, my sad thoughts about the people who lost all this beauty shifted in a different direction. Instead, I was left with a real sense of pride for the amazing volunteers and people in this community who continue to work hard to make Blossom Boulevard look amazing even though not many people will see it this year.
To all of them, I offer my heartfelt greeting: “Well done.” We live in a very special community to show this kind of community pride and dedication to an effort of this level when faced with such extenuating circumstances.
The same can likely be said of the flower baskets lining Washington Street in an area known to me and many others this year as “The Gauntlet.” I think most drivers were so concerned about traffic in all directions, avoiding rear-ending the car in front of them or turning pedestrians into hood ornaments, that they didn’t have much opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the baskets.
There may also have been a few drivers who were so distracted watching everything else they had to deal with, they may have said, “I didn’t even notice the baskets were there.” Well, yes they have risen and are more beautiful than ever in the sea of road frustration.
I jokingly tell people that your people really noticed them one day as pedestrians when they looked to the sky for some divine intervention in crossing Washington Street safely. I thought that if God could help Moses part the Red Sea, surely He could move some Fords, Buicks, Dodges, and Chevrolets to let me cross Washington Street.
Even the flowers on Division and River streets may not have received as much visual interest as in other years due to different traffic flows and distractions.
Perhaps the only section of downtown flowers that received real recognition this year were those tended by the Manistee Proud group at the west end of River Street. It was another great job by that group, and I thank them as well.
What we all need to remember is that the Memorial Bridge really needed these repairs and we will all be in a better and safer position once construction is complete. It’s been a tough summer, but better times are on the way.
The real goal of this column is not criticism or frustration about what didn’t happen with flowers this year. Instead, it’s about saying “thank you” and “good job” to all involved in the flower projects surrounding the heart of our community.
You all deserve a pat on the back for another great year under some very difficult circumstances and I just wanted to let you know that someone in the community has noticed your efforts and is proud to have you as members of our community.
It’s a good feeling that will last long after I see you again on Thursday.
Ken Grabowski is a retired journalist who spent more than 36 years working in journalism.