MT. CARMEL – One is a rookie, the other just barely a veteran, but the municipalities of Bluewater and South Huron both appeared to make positive impressions on judges from this year's Communities in Bloom (CIB) program.

Judges toured both municipalities last week to evaluate them on a set of eight criteria, part of a program that aims to foster civic pride, environmental responsibility and community beautification.

Scores in each of the eight categories – floral displays, heritage conservation, turf and groundcover, tidiness, environmental awareness, landscaping, community involvement and tree and urban forest management – will be used to give each each community a rating out of five possible "blooms."

Bluewater is participating in the program for the first time this year, while South Huron is in its third year, having received a rating of four blooms last year and three blooms the year before.

“(Bluewater is) a very progressive municipality," said judge Ken Hunter July 13, after touring the municipality.

"I think for a first-time entry they did quite well and hopefully they'll be pleased with how well they did," added fellow judge Bruce Hobin.

"They showed us a lot of things the first time around. I thought they acquitted themselves quite well."

Judge Marie Huxter was similarly complimentary about South Huron, telling the Times-Advocate Exeter's Main Street was impressive and praising the work of the Business Improvement Association (BIA) and others.

"My impression just from seeing a few of the neighbourhoods is that people certainly take pride in their homes and their gardens," she added. "It looks like a very inviting community."

Hobin said he judged South Huron two years ago and was looking to see how the municipality appears now, compared to back then.

"Just from my original views, the now is much better than it was then," he said.

Such comments are likely music to the ears of CIB committee members, many of whom spent months preparing for the judging.

Bluewater Blooms committee co-chairperson Jim Fergusson said last week he thinks Bluewater has done a commendable job representing itself.

"I think we've highlighted our community, we have increased our profile of Bluewater and we have raised the environmental awareness in the community," he said. "I think generally, overall, we've done well."

Committee co-chairperson Kay Wise said in a separate interview she thought the program went well, adding that everyone was anxious to make an impact.

"I think we did," she said.

Bluewater's theme included yellow, orange and white as central colours, though individual suppliers were left to interpret those colours as they wanted, according to Fergusson.

"You'll see that everyone is different in each little village," he said. "So it added interest, but we did keep the standard colour theme."

South Huron's effort included the zinnia, a flower given to community groups and grown by several people in the municipality, according to South Huron committee chairperson Cathy Seip.

Seip said people are getting to know what the committee is about, and said she thinks there was more participation this year than last.
Seip added that a landscaping project at Exeter's former town hall, the upcoming

Bach Festival of South Huron and the Mainstreets Exeter revitalization program might help push South Huron toward a five-bloom rating.

Wise cited Bluewater's Community Improvement Plan as something that could help her municipality in future CIB competitions.

"There were several initiatives that were brought forward by the consultant, and they certainly can't do anything but make it good," she said.

Fergusson said the response from the Bluewater community has been positive, adding there are many people who've said they want to participate but didn't this year.

Wise said a large contingent from Bayfield was involved, and noted the participation of people like master gardener Betsy Rowcliffe of Hensall.

Wise noted visits were made to schools in Hensall and Zurich, something that was a big step in getting people "thinking community."

Seip said South Huron council was on board with the effort, and noted support from the BIA and community groups like the Lions and Lioness.

"It brings the community together and makes us realize how great a place South Huron is to live," she said.

As for Bluewater, Fergusson said he thinks the important thing is that improvement have been made in the community.

"Once you've made those improvements you're not going to let them slide and slip back," he said.

"That improvement will be ongoing and I think that's a positive for the program if we never win any blooms."

Report cards for both Bluewater and South Huron will be handed out at a conference in Sarnia scheduled for Sept. 24-25.