Main Street and Water Street in Warren maintain an idyllic ambiance not seen often enough in modern downtowns. And if you take a slightly closer look amidst the streets’ restaurants and small businesses, refreshingly devoid of large chain stores, there are little details that add to the aesthetic charm.

A great example of this can be seen in the large blue flower pots that adorn many spots along the two main drags, where an assortment of colorful flowers and greenery can be seen flourishing throughout the year.

“The streets of Warren were pretty barren and uninspiring before, and this is something fun and beautiful to look at,” said Elizabeth O’Connell, an artist and gardener who also co-founded the Warren Beautification Project, also known as the Warren Volunteer Gardeners. “We do it to make the town more beautiful.”

Beginning in the summer of 2018 in collaboration with Katie Dickson, co-chair of Discover Warren, David Frerich of Frerich Farms, and the Warren Department of Public Works, the Warren Beautification Project began with the hopes of getting local merchants to take ownership of a pot of flowers in front of their business in order to add a bright splash of color along the streets.

Provided with funding through Discover Warren, the group has been able to acquire 37 pots for use throughout the downtown today. They are maintained thanks to the helping hands of each partner merchant, which are responsible for fertilizing and watering the plants; about 20 volunteers that trim, “deadhead” and replace plants if necessary; and assistance of DPW staff, who store the pots during the off season in the winter.

Thanks to their efforts, you can see a wide array of flower arrangements throughout each season. The group has already grown in its scope, maintaining four plantings a year (summer flowers, fall mums and bulbs, and winter greenery). They utilize a spot near the corner of Baker and Water Streets at Massasoit Memorial Park as a “backup” garden of perennial and annuals. There is even a gift card to Frerich Farms available to the three merchants that best maintain their pots throughout the year.

And as the group hopes to continue the practice for many years to come — there are plans to plant small, live evergreens in the pots this winter if funding can be found — they are requesting any and all interested volunteers to speak up.

“We need volunteers,” said Ms. O’Connell, who organizes most of the group’s efforts alongside Kara Johnston. “No gardening experience is necessary, we will guide you. Volunteers donate their time throughout the season when they are available to help. We also need people to help with communications and emails and to manage and update our Facebook page, ‘Warren Volunteer Gardeners’, with news and photos.”

Ms. O’Connell mentioned that there was a similar volunteer gardening project initiated nearly 30 years ago by Allison Newsome, a local sculptor, and that it was cool to be bringing back a program with historic roots in the town.

“This is a beautification project that was resurrected over time,” she said.

All interested in volunteering as a member of the Warren Volunteer Gardeners should contact Elizabeth O’Connell at WarrenVolunteerGardeners@gmail.com.