Spring may not be here officially but all you have to do is look out the window to see that the season is basically upon us.

With that comes grass cutting, landscaping and beautification projects such as planting flowers. This goes for private citizens as well as community organizations like Ironton In Bloom.

The grassroots civic group is gearing up for another year but can use some help, either financial or volunteer.

Each year the organization focuses on a variety of clean up and beautification projects including planting hundreds of flowers in downtown. This is an expensive proposition but one that has a real impact.

Anyone who thinks the organization is just about planting flowers is really missing the big picture. Ironton In Bloom has been key in helping spark pride in our community. For whatever reason, this had waned in recent years. But Ironton In Bloom and other groups including the Friends of Ironton, the Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action Organization, the Rotary Club and the Ironton Port Authority have all been working together to make a difference in the city’s downtown and across Ironton.

Anyone wishing to make a contribution, can send a check to Ironton In Bloom, P.O. Box 4495, Ironton, OH 45638

Ironton In Bloom may soon be planting flowers but the seeds of change were planted years ago when this group of dedicated volunteers began trying to make the city a better place.