Colorful plant filled flower pots – 95 of them in all – dot the sidewalks of the Ripon downtown business district, thanks to the Ripon Garden Club in an effort led by two members, Gloria Black and Joan Azevedo.
The two longtime Ripon residents have dedicated themselves to keeping the downtown sidewalks as colorful as possible
The club’s 90 members hosted a successful home garden tour in September with the proceeds going to two $2,000 high school scholarships with the students having to have an ag or landscaping focus for their future vocations. 
The club also plants in the patio of Bethany Home on West Main Street and were busy planting bulbs last week to provide spring color at the nursing facility.  They also plant flowers in the butterfly garden and maintain the other gardens in and around Bethany.  The group also donates to all Ripon elementary schools for their gardens and gives $200 a year to the City of Ripon for the purchase of trees – two specifically for Mistlin Park.
Co-chairman of the club, Michelle Bartels said that all of the group’s profits stays in Ripon with a focus on youth in the community, striving to provide landscaping and keeping the city beautiful.
The City of Ripon provided the stone pots that dot the sidewalk.

To contact Glenn Kahl, email gkahl@mantecabulletin.com.