KNYSNA NEWS - The Knysna in Bloom project in the Main Street is now complete with the last four pots having been placed outside Winfield Optometrists.

 

The founder of the project, Stella Sohn, said the project has most definitely achieved its objective which is to enhance Main Street from the Post Office to the Knysna Superspar with a total of 80 beautiful planted pots.

 

According to Sohn all that remains to be done is for the feet of the pots to be replaced on the very original pots so that all pots match.

 

"Ornamental Concrete has kindly agreed to do this," said Sohn.

 

There are five communal pots: One outside Jet in memory of our beloved Madiba, three outside FNB dedicated to the memory of the children lost in the Rheenendal school bus tragedy, and one at Oaks on Main in celebration of Rodney Murphy's dedication to the project – he is the man watering and caring for the 80 pots three times a week.

 

 

The following people have made contributions towards these pots: Kanonkop Guest House, Joy from Thai Kitchen, Yvonne Macaulay, Terry Johnson, Dr James Norval,, Joanne McDonogh, Louida Terblanche, Magna de Jager, Louise Yoko, Jacqui Bevan, Penny Venter, Hanlie King, Nula, Alison, EB (no further info supplied for these three kind folk), Daleen Roos, Rachel Smith, Signrite, Cedric and Chantal Piralla, Vivette Blundell, Glenda Fleming, and Barbara Burgess.

 

Many many thanks to Candace Myers who has for months contributed R500 a month towards costs.- Knysna in Bloom has managed to replace many annuals thanks to you.

 

Thanks also to Peter Emmanuel, who donated through CX Sand, two spades of gravel for the base of each of the pots, Charles van Tonder, who donated as much fantastic decomposed sawdust as needed from Concordia Saw Mills (and to Jenny Mullins for helping to organise it), Lizette Withers for the equally fantastic decomposed elephant dung (it is wonderful that trees and elephants have a part in the project), Neville of Loerie Signs who rescued the project by taking over the plaques from Signrite, Hedges Nursery for their patient advice and good plant prices, Stella Sohn's son, James, and gardener, Timothy, for their endless help, her husband Richard for making a trust account available for the funds to be kept safely, his PAs Zoe Mortlock and Bronwyn Kotze for meticulous book and detail keeping, and Rodney Murphy without whose litter collection, weeding, watering and feeding, the pots would not look as beautiful as they do.

 

Sohn would also like to thank the newly established Business Against Crime Owls, an extremely successful neighbourhood watch for the CBD whose patrollers keep a beady eye on the pots too.

 

"Thank you also to carguards James, Freddie, Ashwell, Randal and Bonnie for all their help and support."

 

Although the project is no longer able to place more pots in the street as per Knysna in Bloom's permission from the Knysna Municipality, there are ongoing costs – monthly feeding, plant replacement, the odd plaque replacement, petrol (often for two or three vehicles on various missions such as fetching plants, taking a gardener to town to work on the pots, patrolling often to spot thieves or vandals or bums on pots), and the small remuneration Murphy receives.

 

Contact Stella Sohn on either 083 325 2581 or narnia@pixie.co.za if you would like to make a contribution to the pots that are making your town beautiful.