SHELBURNE FALLS — The Bridge of Flowers will host its iconic spring plant sale on Saturday, May 15, and while the bridge won’t be open to the public this weekend, the committee overseeing the bridge is planning to reopen it at some point this season.
“Good news is we are going to be able to open the bridge, but we don’t have a date firmly set yet,” Bridge of Flowers Committee Chair Annette Szpila said Monday.
When the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020, Bridge of Flowers Committee members made the decision not to open the bridge to the public as a health precaution. In March of this year, members said they were not going to be able to meet their regular April 1 opening but were working with local health boards to determine whether and how the popular tourist attraction could open.
The season typically lasts through Oct. 31 each year.
Last year, a main reason it was not feasible to open the bridge was that the committee would have had to organize contact tracing of all people who visited. Staffing such an effort was not possible, Szpila said. Committee members last year also said closure of the bridge during the early stages of the pandemic was intended to avoid an influx of visitors while the country was trying to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Annually, the Bridge of Flowers can draw up to 60,000 people from all over the world to Shelburne Falls.
Given the relaxing of state regulations over the past few months, Szpila said the local Board of Health is helping the Bridge of Flowers Committee to determine what would be required to reopen the bridge this year. This will include the need to wear masks “because it’s nearly impossible to social distance” while on the bridge, she said. Signs with guidelines will also be posted.
Updates on the bridge’s status will be announced on the committee’s website, bridgeofflowersmass.org.
For now, the Bridge of Flowers Committee is looking toward the return of the plant sale, which was not held last year. Saturday’s sale will be at the Baptist lot, at the corner of Main and Water streets, from 9 a.m. to noon, rain or shine.
“There will be lots of plants from the Bridge of Flowers itself, and from local gardeners,” said Carol Angus, who is co-chairing this year’s plant sale with Lynda Lightner. “We’ll also have annuals contributed by local nurseries.”
According to Szpila, annuals will be donated by Mill River Farm, and geraniums will be donated by John LaSalle, owner of LaSalle Florists in Whately. Other annuals have been divided right from plants on the bridge to give to patrons Saturday.
“We’ve had several potting sessions — a couple days a week, for a couple of hours, to plant them and get them started,” Szpila said.
This year’s spring celebration will also see a garden and gardener-themed tag sale, dubbed the “Green Thumb Tag Sale.” Angus said gently used gardening tools, books, decorative pots and more will be for sale. This is being held in partnership with the Shelburne Falls Area Women’s Club.
While the start of the Bridge of Flowers Plant Sale is usually signaled by the ringing of a bell that morning, the owner of said bell has moved away. Angus said the tradition will be adjusted this year, with members blowing a whistle at 9 a.m. to kick off the day. Szpila recommended patrons arrive on time, as some plants have been known to sell fast.
Pandemic-related health safety precautions will be observed. Participants are asked to practice social distancing and wear face coverings. This year will also see the plant sale area roped off, with one entrance and one exit to the Baptist Lot, located along Main Street. No food will be provided as part of this year’s sale due to health safety restrictions.
Szpila said volunteer staff members will be wearing their straw hats so they’re recognizable if anyone has questions.
Zack DeLuca can be reached at zdeluca@recorder.com or 413-930-4579.
A previous version of this story incorrectly described the entrance and exit arrangement for Saturday’s Bridge of Flowers Plant Sale.