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TOP STORY OF THE DAY - Mum trees at Forest Park’s “Fountain of the Tales” - Becoming a fall tradition
Forest Park’s “Fountain of the Tales” is becoming a place for a fall tradition thanks to the efforts of Andy Stone at A&B Farmhouse in Brazil: Mum Trees.
For two years now, Stone and volunteers have helped bring a splash of fall color to the fountain.
Stone, admitting to a passion for the park’s fountain area, says it all began when a few people sent him pictures of decorations off the internet asking, “Wouldn’t this be cool?”
“I looked at it and thought, ‘Oh yeah, that’s beautiful,” said Stone, but admits he had no idea how to do it. “I thought about it and was like, I could figure out a way to do it on a smaller scale. “
When Stone announced his plans to attempt making the mum tree base, he was surprised by the amount of people who offered to help.
There were 90 mums purchased the first year by Terry Meyer; this year, it only needed 80 plants. Adam Clark, a Lowes manager, donated the chicken wire and wood to make the base, and that was in the first 24 hours after announcing the project.
More people came to help set up the mum trees.
“The first year, I had like 10 people there,” said Stone, who had help from Kameron Mathews creating the base but still wasn’t sure how it all worked. “I really didn’t know how it would be put together. So it put more pressure on me because people just stood around saying, ‘How can I help? Um, I didn’t know.”
So, this year, when Stone announced on social media the project was a go again, Mother Nature decided it would rain, and there were fewer volunteers.
“Thursday was like torrential downpours,” said Stone.” Anyway, it worked out because I could take a bit more time to figure out a couple of little things to change this year to make it better, easier to water.”
Stone has a list of 40 volunteers who will help water the mum trees for the next several weeks.
Stone loves the residents’ community spirit in his adopted hometown, Brazil.
“I know we see all the bad stuff on (social media) and that type of stuff, said Stone. “But in this community, when you ask for help, people step forward and get you what you need. Especially when they see it as a ‘feel good” type scenario. People are really working to make it a better place to live.”
The public can drive by the Forest Park entrance on State Road 59 to see the fountain before the cold weather kills the plants.
Public Response for Mum Trees
When The Brazil Times highlighted a picture of the completed Mum Trees project on its Facebook page, many residents logged on to compliment the work. Andy Stone was quick to list the following people and businesses that helped
create and support the project.
Including Terry Myers of T Myers Pole Barns
Lowe’s of Terre Haute
Tri Kappa of Clay County
Lone Pine Leasing
Steve & Michelle Bell
Kameren Mathews,
Scott & Megan Rubeck,
Diana Adamson,
Brenda Singleton
Of the 56 comments left online, a highted few include:
Matt Rader
Brazil Times that is the best it’s probably looked so long as I’ve been old enough to remember it.
Bell Killion
That is just beautiful! Up close its even better. Go see it! Thanks to the gifter.
Cole Dalton Kellum
That looks amazing. Great job Andy Stone and all those who helped in making this happen.
Cate Baker
Love it! Hugs to you for doing it!
Janice Foulke
Beautiful!!!! Makes me proud to call Brazil my HOMETOWN.
Ruthann Jeffries
Beautiful. Thank you Andy.