Tracy is the Palmer Groundskeeper Foreman. She and her crew keep the hanging flower baskets in downtown Palmer blooming all summer long. The baskets hang on poles along Alaska Street from Fireweed Avenue to Blueberry Avenue. Additional displays adorn the visitor center, public restrooms, the Depot, and the temporary library. A total of 80 baskets brighten the downtown.
Tracy has spent nearly 20 years tending the hanging flower baskets along Alaska Street.
The baskets are sourced from Ewetopia Greenhouse in the Butte. Their bold, bright colors are designed to stand out against trees and buildings. Each basket contains 10 to 12 flower varieties. They create ever-changing displays as the season progresses. Early blooms give way to new varieties as summer unfolds. The baskets grow fuller and more colorful as time passes.
Maintaining the baskets requires work. The crew waters them three times a week: on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. They fertilize the baskets weekly. The baskets may need extra watering during warm or windy stretches to keep the densely planted baskets from drying out. Wind can be tough on the flowers, but the baskets are resilient and often bounce back after storms.
Beyond their beauty, the flowers support pollinators. Tracy sees bees among the blooms, especially around the visitor center and flowering trees throughout town. As different plants bloom in sequence—cherry bushes, rose trees, clover, and dandelions—they provide vital forage for pollinators across the community.
Palmer also features community food planters through the Grow Palmer program. These volunteer-supported beds are located along popular walking routes. They rely on residents to weed, harvest responsibly, and keep them tidy. Palmer Public Works waters and fertilizes the beds, but community participation is key. Other gardens, such as the one at the Palmer Museum of History and Art, are maintained through partnerships and contracts.
Tracy’s crew of six is soon to grow to seven or eight. They handle more than flower baskets. They mow city parks and sports fields weekly, maintain landscaping at city buildings and the airport, empty the public trash cans three times a week, and service the 13 dog waste stations across town. The crew really appreciates everyone who picks up after their pets.The volume of dog waste collected underscores how important those stations are for keeping trails and green spaces clean.
The most rewarding part of the job for Tracy is her “victory lap.” She drives through the downtown after a week of mowing, trimming, and watering and sees Alaska Street manicured and vibrant before Friday Fling. Positive comments from tourists and locals make the hard work worthwhile.
Looking ahead, Tracy would love to expand flower displays beyond the downtown and update aging park equipment with newer, safer playground structures. She wants to explore adding flower baskets to the municipal golf course clubhouse.
Groundskeeping in Palmer is constant work. Grass and flowers grow fast with the long summer daylight. Tracy and her team take pride in keeping the city beautiful. If you see them out working, don’t hesitate to offer a wave or a thank-you.
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Mike Chmielewski reported this story based on an interview last Friday. The full interview is on bigcabbageradio.org in Inside the City under Podcasts.
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That’s it for today and the news on Page Two on Monday June 8, 2026.