2023 End of Season Volunteer Events
If you have an interest in volunteering (in something other than planting), please email Monika at director@kalamazooinbloom.org.
Pull Flowers & Topiaries
Kalamazoo: September 27 and 28
Portage: September 30 and October 2
Flower beds and topiaries have to be pulled at Portage, Bronson Park, City Hall, and the Courthouse. Bring gloves and if you have them, a shovel and pots/bag to carry any plants home. Wear your gardening clothes and prepare to get dirty. Come at 9:00 or whenever you can. You'll be given a parking pass that's valid at a meter spot surrounding Bronson Park. In Portage, park at City Hall or the library (the lot closest to where flowers need to be pulled).
Empty Flower Containers
Kalamazoo: October 3 and 4
Now that the flower beds have been cleared, the flower containers can get pulled and the soil raked into the beds. Wear your gardening clothes and boots. Bring gloves and if you have them, a shovel, garden rake, containers/bags to carry plants home. Come at 9:00 or whenever you can in the morning. You'll be given a parking pass that's valid at a meter spot surrounding Bronson Park.
2024 Volunteer Planting Events & More
Adopt a Bed
June through September 2024
Sign up to adopt a flower bed in either downtown Kalamazoo or Portage. Tend to your bed once a week throughout the summer (end of May through end of September). Responsibilities include weeding, deadheading and removing litter.
Click here to sign up to adopt a bed. Look for a chance to sign up in Spring 2024
Vew our Bed Adopter orientation for Kalamazoo or Portage (coming soon).
Peacock Planting Days - Add Soil
May 2024
The first of several community planting days start with the filling of 2 peacock topiary structures with soil in Bronson Park. Volunteers are welcome to help us stuff the birds. It's a messy but fun time. Bring gloves and wear old clothes. We start at 9 am and should be done by 1 pm. Come for all of it or however much time you can spare. A parking pass will be handed out so you can park at a metered spot surrounding Bronson Park.
Peacock Planting Days - Plant
May 2024
Help plant the 2 peacocks in Bronson Park. We start at 9 am and will be done by Noon when the bucket truck comes to lift and attach the peacock heads to the body on Thursday. It's quite a sight to see the peacocks come together, and you can play a role in bringing these community icons back for the summer! A parking pass will be handed out to park at a metered spot surrounding Bronson Park.
Portage Planting Days
May 2024
Our first community planting day is in Portage (rain or shine). Registration starts at 9 am in the Portage District Library parking lot. Bring your favorite planting utensils - trowel, gloves, kneeling pad, bucket. After planting, we'll add mulch to many of the beds. Buckets and snow shovels are good to use. Beverages and snacks are provided. An afternoon shift is available too. Volunteers are tired by lunchtime so having more volunteers come for a 2nd shift will help us get all the work done.
View our welcome video on planting in Portage.
Watch our Planting Basics video.
Watch our Bed Supervisor orientation video (experienced KIB volunteers).
Portage Bicentennial Creek Trailhead
May 2024
Help plant the circle bed at the trailhead on Kilgore and Lovers Lane
Arcadia Creek Festival Place
May 2024
Plant with the team from Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership at the Arcadia Creek Festival Place. There is the orange slice bed and numerous containers.
Transportation Center
May 2024
Help plant 16 containers located at the Kalamazoo Transportation Center downtown.
Topiary Installation Day & Plant Smaller Beds
May 2024
Help install our topiaries in Bronson Park. We start at 9 am and will be done by 1pm. Come for all of it or however much time you can spare. Once the topiaries are installed, join us for planting day! A parking pass will be handed out to park at a metered spot surrounding Bronson Park.
Kalamazoo Planting Days
May 2024
Volunteers will help plant Bronson Park, City Hall, County Courthouse, Arcadia Festival Place, and a few other places. Bring your favorite planting essentials - gloves, trowel, a small shovel, kneeling pad, bucket, snow shovel, and wheelbarrow. After planting, we'll add mulch to all of the beds. Beverages and snacks are provided. An afternoon shift is available too. Volunteers are tired by lunchtime so having more volunteers come for a 2nd shift will help us get all the work done. Park is allowed at meters immediately surrounding Bronson Park with a parking pass that you receive at registration. Parking pass must be returned before you leave.
View our welcome video on planting in Kalamazoo.
Watch our Planting Basics video.
Watch our Bed Supervisor orientation video (experienced KIB volunteers).