Dear Editor,
The Cache Creek Communities in Bloom sub-committee encourages the Village of Cache Creek Council to declare the sunflower its official flower. Several other local municipalities have adopted official flowers. Kamloops Council has adopted the marigold, and Ashcroft Council has adopted the daylily. The idea has been supported unanimously by the Cache Creek Communities in Bloom sub-committee.
We feel that the sunflower is a great choice for our community. It represents sunshine, highlighting a great selling point about Cache Creek’s sunny climate. It grows well here, and will often reseed. Gardeners find them voluntarily popping up in gardens in the spring.
They are friendly to the environment, and the seeds from the flower heads feed many species of birds. They are easily grown and shared, they are not expensive to grow, and they are not invasive or difficult to get rid of if unwanted. Our committee could easily share the seeds with local residents, visitors, and provincially at CIB events at an affordable cost.
The sunflower has many varieties and colours: large and tall, short and branchy, yellow, orange, burgundy, brown, striped, and multi-coloured. Their use in landscaping designs is increasing, and they can be grown in planters as well as in garden beds.
Local citizens have been very positive about the idea of the sunflower being chosen by Cache Creek Council as the official community flower when we have mentioned it at events. Communities in Bloom judges were also very positive this year about the sunflower being an appropriate choice as Cache Creek’s community flower.
It is a colourful and popular choice for community outdoor and indoor art. The sunflower is easily recognized and known, and easy to draw and paint. Children enjoy growing sunflowers, which have a long blooming season through the summer and fall.
Adoption of the sunflower does not restrict the municipal plantings in any way. We are not advocating that every planter be planted with sunflowers. We are suggesting that they be incorporated into a variety of plantings on a changing basis as they already are this year, for example in the beautiful planters outside and across from the Tourist Information Centre. There is no cost to adopting an official community flower, but it is a great way to increase community pride and identity.
The Cache Creek Communities in Bloom volunteers are interested in hearing from residents of Cache Creek, or others, on this topic. Please leave your feedback on our Facebook page, or by calling 250-457-9119.
Carmen Ranta, Chair
C.C. Communities in Bloom,
a sub-committee of the Cache Creek Beautification Society