— by Lin McNulty —
If you have been on Orcas since 2000, you may have been the recipient of a May Day flower delivered to your door by students and parents from Orcas Christian School.
The first year, they gave out 36 plants, then 300, then 500. This year an estimated 1,200 flowers were delivered to Orcas Island residents.
The plants are started in the school in late January or early February. They continue their growth in the school office until they are moved to a local greenhouse. Local Master Gardeners Sally Coffin and Dixie Walmsley have offered greenhouse space for the plants.
Mostly Marigolds this year, with a few Petunias. “It all depends on what makes it through the growing process,” says Kathy Roosma, primary room teacher and plant coordinator.
The distribution process is somewhat loose, as some residents may have noticed that they don’t receive the yearly offering. “We give a bunch of plants to parents and assign them roads for delivery. Dark, dirt roads may be overlooked, and, of course, many properties are marked No Trespassing.”
Last year, added Roosma, there were no blooms on the gifted flowers. However, she notes, the plants really took to life after delivery; “we received the most positive feedback that year.”
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I always am delighted to receive a flower plant from the cherubs of May Day- Christian School. i potted mine and a friend’s today in pots. He is one of those who lives down a long gravel drive and was over the moon happy to receive the visit of adult and three children that gifted him a purple petunia and took a swing on his indoor swing and explored the fun treasures of his home. it is so wonderful that you all do this! I will drop more four inch pots by for next year’s planting THANK YOU , children AND adults!!
This lovely, generous, yearly gift from The Christian School is one of the most delightful things on the island! I want to thank everyone who works on this wonderful project! It is deeply appreciated!
Very thoughtful!
When you are a 93-point-9 year-old widowed lonely vintage person, living way out in the Doe Bay Boondoxia, it is a gratifying, warm feeling to have the students, our future, of our Christian School,
suddenly, unexpectedly, come through the door, with a presentation of beautiful flowers!
Thank you, Christian School! May Day was wonderful!
This is such an awesome tradition to receive a May Day plant from Orcas Christian School. I was pleasantly surprised the first and then second year. After that I have looked forward to such a sweet gift. My mother and I used to always make May Day baskets with construction paper and paper lace doilies and hang them on neighbors doors with flowers from our yard in them. Thank you Orcas Christian School!
This has always been a sweet reminder of spring when I get home from work and there is a little pot of flowers. Thank you for this thoughtful gift to the community!