Winner of the 2005 Harborwalk Most Beautiful Planter Contest

Pictured:  Steve and Susan Tomlin for International Paper

ADOPT-A-SPOT 

Keep Georgetown Beautiful volunteers enhance Georgetown’s historic and natural beauty through the Harborwalk planter adoption program. 

The wooden planter boxes that line Front Street’s Harborwalk are “adopted” on a yearly basis by volunteers within the community.  There are boxes sponsored by individuals, businesses, clubs and more.  “These boxes are planted and maintained throughout the year by our own citizens for the enjoyment of all who visit our historic waterfront,”  says Keep Georgetown Beautiful Board Chair Ron Charlton. “Keep Georgetown Beautiful volunteers give so much of themselves through their time and efforts of enhancing the appearance and enjoyment of our city.” 

The Beautification Committee of KGB Chaired by Robert Quinn hosted its third annual Harborwalk Planter Contest during the Harborwalk Festival on June 25.  The judges were our own downtown merchants, who voted on their favorite planter along the Harborwalk.  However, the merchants not only donated of their time, but also of their store.  A grand prize basket was compiled of the gifts donated by participating merchants.  

Our sincere THANK YOU to the following participating merchants:

Wachovia, Wal-Mart, Rover Tours, Stalveys, Rice Museum, Okra Bistro, The Rice Paddy, River Room, Riverside Grille, Café Panini, Cold Rocks Ice Cream, Create A Keepsake, The Humidor, Ships Booty, The Georgetown Times, SlightLeigh Impaired Coffee Shop, Girly Girly, Sweeties, Colonial Florist,  Cuttin’ Edge, The Kaminski House Museum.

 “We ask that the Front Street merchants who have participated in our contest and volunteers who have given of their time in the adoption of a planter, accept our huge “Thank You!”, without them, this wouldn’t be possible,” says Robert Quinn, KGB Beautification Committee Chair. 

The winners of the “Most Beautiful Planter Contest” are:

First Place and Grand Prize Winner – Susan & Steve Tomlin for International Paper

Second Place – there were 3

Susan & Paige Sawyer

Marjorie & Fred Schilling

Dianne Benton Floyd for Low Country Discount Center

Third Place - Tamela Walter for Rover Tours

Not only are planters adopted along the Harborwalk, many Front Street merchants themselves have adopted one to go in front of their store.  The KGB Board of Directors and our Beautification Committee are well pleased with the popularity of this ongoing project to help make Georgetown a more beautiful place. 

Irrigation System

Since the origination of the planters on the Harborwalk, there has been no running water to the boxes.  Each adopter was responsible for carrying buckets of water to their box by hand.  In the hot summer months, this had become a daily activity for planter adopters.  An automatic irrigation system has recently been installed on the Harborwalk.  Each planter now has its own connection to the irrigation system and is automatically watered on a regular basis.  The system is turned off in mid November and turned back on in early spring.

If anyone is interested in adopting one of our Harborwalk planters for a year is welcome to contact KGB.  They are adopted out on a first-come-first-serve basis whenever one becomes available.