Civic Improvements had an active year working with the city and county for beautification projects, in addition to our annual Plant an Azalea Week in April and Beauty Spot Awards in June. Our committee also coordinates work in the CFGC sponsored Urban Garden in Riverfront Park.
We applied our budgeted funds to help the Wilmington Municipal Golf Course plant 234 azaleas in beds alongside Pine Grove Road. This had been a project that we had facilitated by working and partnering with the City Parks and Municipal Golf Course Staff, urging them to apply for an Azalea Garden Tour Grant. Their application was approved and this funding was added to our budgeted funds to order the azaleas.
Wilmington City Parks staff asked for input from our committee on designing a new planting for a prominent median at Market and 3rd Street in downtown Wilmington. Our committee came up with an idea of a tiered fountain-like planter to be mounted onto the concrete base that had previously supported a Civil War Statue. We worked with Nina Brown of the Stone Garden to order the planter, which was made possible through a generous donation from CFGC member Martin Meyerson. We urged the city to apply for an Azalea Garden Tour Disbursements Grant for the planting material, which was approved. In April 2023, our committee worked alongside the Wilmington Parks Staff to plant this median.
Plant an Azalea Week was coordinated by Janine Powell and a planting ceremony was held at Airlie Gardens during the first week of April. County Commissioners attended and participated along with committee and club members to plant azaleas at Airlie.
Pia Ann Robison coordinated the annual “Beauty Spot – Outstanding Landscape Awards” that are sponsored by Civic Improvements as a part of National Garden Week. The following properties were recognized and awarded on June 8, 2023:
The Beauty Spot Award for a residential location belongs to June and Chuck Sweeny at 221 Beech Street, Wilmington, NC, 28405. Both June and Chuck work in their garden and enjoy the peaceful setting they have created. There are many flowering plants, shrubs, and trees to be seen during each season. Their inviting front porch gives them the perfect view of their lovely front landscape. June has been a member of the Cape Fear Graden Club since 2006.
The Beauty Spot Award for a Neighborhood Entrance belongs to Trinity Landing at 5450 Trinity Landing Way, Wilmington, NC, 28409, off of Masonboro Loop Road. Trinity Landing is a new senior living development near Monkey Junction in southern New Hanover County. The entire property has beautiful mature trees that were not removed during the building process. Their front entrance is very inviting with new plantings of shrubs, trees, and flowers. Golf carts are available to take you through this large property that goes back to the Intracoastal Waterway. Along the various routes, you can admire the many flowering plants and shrubs.
The Beauty Spot Award for a Business belongs to Kipos Hellenic Cuisine, 1900 Eastwood Road, Ste 2, Wilmington, NC, 28403. Since Kipos means “garden” in Greek, this business has created a beautiful outdoor space with many features including a pergola, stonework throughout, and water features. There are inviting places to sit and eat plus swings for children to use. The many colorful flowers, plants, and shrubs are visually stunning. Also, the mature trees provide a beautiful canopy over the garden area.
April 2023- Civic Improvement Committee Members pose with the newly installed planter t Market and 3rd Street in downtown Wilmington