Oct. 14, 2021 By Michael Dorgan
The seventh annual LIC Bulbfest will take place next month and organizers are looking to make it a record-breaking community event.
LIC Bulbfest, which is organized by the Hunters Point Parks Conservancy (HPPC), will see volunteers plant thousands of bulbs in Hunters Point South Park and Gantry Plaza State Park on Saturday, Nov. 6.
Organizers want volunteers to put down 16,000 bulbs which would shatter last year’s record of 12,000 bulbs being planted.
The event will follow new COVID-19 guidelines that were introduced last year with volunteers required to follow proper hygiene and social distancing guidelines which include incorporating spaced-out check-in times.
The HPPC is asking for volunteers to help it plant a variety of tulip and daffodil bulbs. Volunteers are asked to meet at the plaza in Gantry Plaza State Park near Center Boulevard between 48th and 49th Avenues.
The event is set to kick off at 9:30 a.m. and finish at 12:30 p.m. Instructions on how to plant bulbs will be given at that time and volunteers of all ages are welcome, the HPPC said.
HPPC President Rob Basch said the group is excited about continuing LIC Bulbfest for another year.
“The parks have never looked better,” Basch said. “We all look forward to our community turning out once again to contribute to keeping our parks the special place they have become.”
A combined total of nearly 42,000 bulbs have been planted at the last six events and the HPPC is hoping that this year’s planting will lead to remarkable spring blooms.
All of the bulbs that will be planted are being donated by the Van Zyverden Company, a Mississippi-based flower bulb company, while Amazon is sponsoring the event.
Volunteers must sign up in advance here and check-in times run every 15 minutes between 9:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. Each check-in time is limited to a maximum of 15 participants.
The HPPC will also provide clean gardening gloves and sanitized tools while hand sanitizer will also be provided.
More information can be found on the HPPC Facebook page or by emailing info@hunterspointparks.org.