FRANKLIN, Pa. (EYT) — While the Coronavirus Pandemic has caused the organization some difficulties, members of the Franklin Gardeners Association are still diligently working to keep Franklin bright and blooming.

(Photo courtesy of Franklin Gardeners Association)

Franklin Gardeners Association president Susie Blair said that while the organization has taken a hit from canceling two of their major annual fundraisers — the Garden Collage and the May Garden Mart — they are fortunate to have some reserve funds to handle a few projects.

“While it looks like it will be a quiet year for us, we do plan to continue our public plantings around town,” Blair said.

The first of those plantings, some cold-hardy pansies, were put in place at their sign at the bottom of the 15th Street Hill on Monday morning.

As the weather continues to warm heading closer to summer, they will begin to work on their other public plantings, near the Franklin Fire Station, and on both sides of the 8th Street Bridge, with social distancing practices in mind.

According to Blair, while the public plantings will be maintained, the cancellation of the fundraisers, particularly the May Mart, which draws many vendors, several non-profits, and even a number of major greenhouses, was a major hit to the local gardening community.

“We’re really community-minded, but this COVID thing has really give us, and a lot of people, a bad time.”

The group will be looking at possible events for later in the year, possibly even “pared-down” versions of the events to account for social distancing, Blair noted.

“We’re still here, and we’re still planting, just not in big groups.”