Last week I drove to the Middletown City Building to meet Della Ewalt, executive director of Keep Middletown Beautiful. I did not see a piece of trash anywhere as I entered the city limits.

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS

• The Great American Cleanup Day will be April 27. Gardens need to be planted. Information: 352-4385.     • Do you have a gardening shed you no longer use? „Liberty Green, a city garden on East Liberty across from the Bell Tower, needs one for tools and hoses. Information: 241-9255.     • The Imago Earth Center will have a family-based service day 9 a.m.-noon April 20. Information: 921-8455.     • Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden Volunteer Garden Day will be 9 a.m.-noon April 20. Zoo will provide tools. Information: 559-7736.     • Basket and Container Planting Project, May 6-8 at the Montgomery Service Building. Plant more than 200 hanging baskets to beautify streets. Information: 792-8329.     • Cincinnati Park Board needs volunteers to help with planters on the Fort Washington Way bridges near the stadium. Information: 861-8970, ext. 15.     • Civic Garden Center of Greater Cincinnati is seeking volunteers for the Neighborhood Garden Program for inner-city gardens. Volunteers meet 8:45 a.m. most Saturdays. Information: 221-0981.

        When I called to verify the location of the building, a recorded message said, “Press 1 if you are reporting tall grass or trash. Press 2 if you have trash or recycled items to be picked up ...” The city's first two messages on its phone line give a clear message that keeping Middletown beautiful is, indeed, a priority.

        Ms. Ewalt and Lynn Getter, education specialist, told of one successful beautification effort after another. Students of all ages, teachers, garden clubs, local businesses and residents play a part.

        “Some said people will dig up the flowers and steal our signs,” Ms. Ewalt says. “No one stole the signs and of 51 flower beds, only one was disturbed by young children. In fact, people waiting at bus stops often were seen weeding planters. „All we got were positive comments.”

        Who are the biggest litterers? The answer: white males ages 19-25.

        Research also shows areas that are well kept are less likely to be littered. Positive action yields a positive result.

        To learn more about how to be a good steward of the earth, attend the Earth Day celebration 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 18 on Fountain Square.

        Or plant a tree and improve the quality of our air. Funke's Garden Center, 4798 Gray Road in Winton Place, will give away trees, one per person, beginning April 20. Information: 541-8170.
       Contact Peg St. Clair by phone: 541-4680; Web site: www.gardenersnetwork.org.
       

Fabulous-Furs ventures further
'Madame Hardy' rose one of best bloomers
Mulchbusters do gardening dirty work
Middletown devoted to beautification
Ohio Garden Club honors 3
Circle this
Home hints
To do this week
In the know
Get to it