The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Flower power could boost city
Green-fingered artist John Stoa is keen to see Dundee being brightened up by an abundance of blooms.
Reflecting on the city’s colourful floral displays of yesteryear, the Menzieshill Roadbased painter says he hopes that both the local authority and his fellow residents will make the effort to add a real splash of colour to their home turf once winter has passed.
Mr Stoa writes: “Looking back into the past as a gardener in Dundee Parks Department, I just loved the spring and summer flower displays in parks and all over the town centre.
“I got hooked into bright colours. I now use this in my paintings as an artist, and way back in the ’60s I painted my town centre flower beds, but today Dundee has lost all its flower power.
“Now into retirement I am trying to bring this colour back again. However, I can only brighten up my own garden, City Road Allotments flower borders and now Dundee Art Society garden in Roseangle.
“I opened up my garden for visitors under the Scotland’s Gardens Scheme to see my spring displays. It was very successful, so now I am planting another 2,000 bulbs between all three areas and opening up again for visitors next year in April and May.
“If Dundee Council can no longer give the town a tourist attraction flower display, maybe its citizens will have to join in and plant up their gardens with tulips, daffodils and crocus to bring back colour into our town.
“Visitors are very welcome to drop into my garden next spring, as well as seeing
the show at City Road Allotments, and now for the first time the Dundee Art Society garden at Roseangle. It would be great to see gardens come alive again. It is not hard to do and the rewards are immense.”