Historic Concordia Welcomes 6800 New Neighbors

Michael Stark

Early this year at the spring quarterly meeting, HCNI members choose the tulip as the signature flower for Historic Concordia.  Neighbors living in or near Historic Concordia are being encouraged to plant tulip bulbs in their gardens.  When the tulips emerge from their wintry grave, they will join us in welcoming the spring.  This colorful carpet may also cause the wayward passerby, on his way to his distant home in Pewaukee, to wonder about a neighborhood in which so many homes have tulips.  This weary commuter may wonder what unifies so many neighbors.  Perhaps they’ll stop and ask why we plant tulips, or why we live in our beautiful homes, or why we know so many of our neighbors.  Maybe they’ll even ask about the house next door for sale.

The HCNI board approved the program to match, up to $50, the purchase of tulip bulbs for members.  With the help of Arne Vedum, HCNI purchased the tulips in bulk and at a discount from the De Vroomen Bulb Company.  For $50 a neighbor got 500 bulbs the size of a baby’s fist and could choose between Oxford Red, Oxford Yellow, or a mix of several different tulips.  Nearly 30 families participated with many finding that it was easier to purchase 500 bulbs than it was to plant 500 bulbs. 

Neighbors also donated $150 towards the purchase of tulips to be planted in common areas.  Thad Nation, Don Clabots and Rick Sandvig planted most of those tulips.  I found a 1925 Liberty quarter while planting my bulbs -- wonder what I’ll find when I plant the last 100 bulbs?  The HCNI board funded this program from proceeds from the Home Tour and expects to continue next year.

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