Bradley Beach Public Works Supervisor Richard Bianchi, Jr. and Councilwoman Lori Marchak-Ortiz stand over the row of pansies that were planted in January. Bianchi points out their first and only bloom.
By JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI
The flowers at the Bradley Beach greenhouse are already budding and in a few short weeks should be in full bloom.
Richard Bianchi, Jr., public works supervisor and Councilwoman Lori Marchak-Ortiz, are spearheading the greenhouse project, which is housing it’s first spring planting this year.
According to Marchak-Ortiz there will be two plantings this year. After the spring plants are taken out of the greenhouse and planted throughout the borough, flowers for the summer planting will be brought in.
For the spring there are currently 2,500 pansies in blue, lemon and white, which will be planted in Riley Park. Summer flowers will line the municipal building and the fire house.
The greenhouse, which measures 96 by 30 feet, allows the borough to decorate the town without spending a small fortune on landscaping.
“We can beautify the town for pennies,” said Bianchi.
One of the things that translates into big savings is that borough workers can get the flower plants as plugs about the size of a Q-Tip and grow them from that point.
The taller a plant is, the more expensive it is to buy from a garden center.
The spring planting is scheduled for around April 1.
“In time for Easter,” said Bianchi, “but it depends on the weather.”
Marchak-Ortiz explained that in addition to her, Bianchi, and public works employees Ronnie Long and Glen Grover, volunteers help make the program a success.
“Last year we had about 100 volunteers,” she said. “We had a program called ‘adopt-a-flower bed.’”
Lori Marchak-Ortiz shows off the first bloom in the Bradley Beach greenhouse.
The flower program started last year, said Marchak-Ortiz. “Last year was the first time we grew our own plants, but this year we are doing a full planting.”
Bianchi worked with Kube-Pak, the largest grower in the state of New Jersey, to develop a five year plan for the borough and the greenhouse.
Based in Allentown, Kube-Pak has 710,000 square feet of greenhouse and is the main supplier for most of the colleges in New Jersey.
Rob Swanekamp of Kube-Pak, outlined a plan ensuring the borough would get the most benefit for its efforts.
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