Friday, October 20, 2017 – Blowing & No Bulb Planting, Christmas Bows, New Grove, Pumpkins for Boo-tiful Nauvoo

Friday always starts by blowing the sidewalks at the Visitor’s Center and Women’s Garden. Following all of the sidewalk blowing we didn’t plant Tulip bulbs for the first time in a week. That’s because they are all planted. In fact we started planting Tulips in Nauvoo last Thursday the 12th and we finished yesterday, Thursday the 19th. It’s hard to believe but the only Tulips left to plant will be in Carthage and those Bulbs haven’t arrived from the grower yet. 

The rest of the day Sis. Johnson got to work with the other ladies making bows  that will be used for the Christmas decoration all over Old Nauvoo next month. Sis. Johnson has already made a lot of bow at home in her spare time. Now with the help of the other Sisters on the grounds crew, they will be able to prepare the 500 plus bows needed. 

After blowing the sidewalks, Elder Kyle Johnson, Elder Cantwell and I killed “Rogue Trees” by the Pendleton School Log Cabin parking lot and also at the “New Grove.” We’ve made great progress at the “New Grove.” Almost all of the “Rogue Trees” have been cut down and the trunks poisoned so they won’t grow back next spring. The “New Grove is looking very nice with only the trees left that are supposed to be there. In 22 years the “New Grove” will be full of big majestic mature trees in time for the Bi-Centennial Celebration of the founding of Old Nauvoo in 1839.

Another large load of pumpkins has arrived at FM. Next week the Jack-O-Lantern carving will begin in earnest. Downtown Nauvoo is all decorated for the big community event called “Boo-tiful Nauvoo.”

The residents and merchants are doing something new this year; they have decorated and set out over 35 Scarecrows for the festivities. They are very unique and creative. The festival includes a Halloween parade down Mulholland Street right through the middle of downtown. FM as well as the Senior Missionaries will all be involved in one way or another.