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IARK NAME SIGNS SIACKEI BY KEN IMNNIGIMIAN ANI BILL GROVES BARRIE PARKS DEPAR TNT SPR UCES CIT money SEIVBIS It takes about $20000 in plants to keep the city parks bright and colorful every year and the Barrie parks department is looking for ways to cut costs The department operates greenhouse at the citys operational centre on Ferndale Drive and has already saved taxpayers money Bill Groves superin tendent of parks and forestry said the depart ment grows and stores between $18000 and $22000 in plant material at the greenhouse By growing the plants he said the city saves and is guaranteed of having the necessary flowers and plants carpet bed at lVIemorial Square used to commemorate special events such as In ternational Womens Year would cost the city $1500 to $1700 if the plants were purchased We can do it for about $200 Mr Groves said Benny de Boers city grower is busy now preparing the last plant IIltlIUS BY IIZIIIII IeIIIISI ANI ROLF KRAIKIIII cuttings for planting and looking after the shrubs and flowers which will be planted in May Mr de Boers said the city started the greenhouse because there were no growers in the Barrie area and all the plants and flowers had to be shipped to the city from southern 0n tario MASS SIIOW Mr Groves said the city is interested in plan ts which are not usually handled by commercial outlets He said the plan ts have to be visible from distance presenting mass show rather than individual beauty He said the depart ment hopes to get another greenhouse this year which will solve other problems and allow more plants to be grown Mr Groves said the last two weeks in March are lull period for the parks department because the weather is unpredictable Most of the workmprepaiing equip ment plants and facilities is completed he said and the depart ment has to wait for the proper weather con ditions to do any other work Crews he said are in the parks as soon as the snow melts cleaning up winter litter UP FOR SUWER ltlIIN SIIEISIONE USES SMALLER SIGN MACHINE