Sprucing up!

It is spring—and in Franklin that means several things.
Some of which, are: Outdoor events to attend, the weather is starting to behave again, and people all over town are planting their gardens and landscaping their lawns.
And, if one were so inclined, one might just find one’s self strolling down Main Street to do some shopping, or to grab a bite to eat, or maybe just for the heck of it.
The planters along the sidewalks are filled this year with bubblegum petunias, margarita sweet potato vines and boxwood shrubs, making for a splash of color and texture and a heady fragrance thanks to the City of Franklin Main Street Design Committee.
The planter boxes were built by Nick Adams and the Franklin Senior High School Agriculture Department, and were painted by Alden Mayon and his grandson. Any merchant on Main Street can foster a planter for $75.
Diane Chauvin and Heloise LeBlanc, committee members, said that this year’s planter design was a mixture of utilizing the plants that worked well last year, and planting ones which can stand-up to varying degrees of light.
But Chauvin and LeBlanc didn’t produce the new plantscapes on their own. They share ranks with: Patti Simoneaux, Betty Veeder, Poule d’Eau Kyle, Erma Bodin, Renelle Dressel, Kathy Landry, Juanita Clemens and Elaine Karam. All of whom work on a voluntary basis.
Even with such a stalwart membership, Chauvin and Leblanc said the committee is seeking volunteers to help water and weed the Main Street planters this summer.
The committee’s primary source of funding used to come from their annual Christmas wreath sale, but Chauvin said that last year’s Tour of Homes was so successful it has now become the group’s top fundraiser.
As for future endeavors, Chauvin and LeBlanc said they have come full circle.
They said with the permission of Franklin Mayor Eugene Foulcard, which they hope to secure, they want to arrange with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development to place resin sugar kettles at the lamp posts on Main Street’s medians. They will plant the kettles seasonally in conjunction with the box planters.
Chauvin said the idea has been one that has been with the committee since its inception in 2014, but they didn’t have the resources then that they have today.
So, if while wandering Main Street this spring, admiring the coquette petunias, you happen to find a fancy to feel your hands in soil, there is a way to avail yourself of this hankering and help beautify Franklin at the same time.
To volunteer for the FMSDC, call Diane Chauvin at 337-346-1299.