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SHELBURNE FALLS, Mass. (WBZNewsRadio) - Caretakers of the famous "Bridge of Flowers" are asking the public to stop spreading the ashes of their loves ones and pets on the flower beds.
"While it might be a beautiful location for a loved one, the ashes are actually killing the plants." The group wrote on social media. "Ashes are very alkaline and contain salts which kill the leaves first and then the roots... Ashes have no place in a garden."
The Bridge of Flowers connects the two communities of Shelburne Falls and Buckland through a walkway surrounded by flower beds on either side. Originally constructed in 1908, it was used by trolleys to carry raw materials across the Deerfield River. By 1927, the trolley was no more
According to the Bridge of Flowers website, the bridge was saved by a local couple who lived nearby. One day while looking at the weed-covered bridge, one asked the other "if weeds can grow on that bridge, why not flowers?"
Volunteers from The Shelburne Falls Women's Club answered the question by rolling up their sleeves and getting dirty. The club moved heavy loam and fertilizer, pulling out weeds and replacing them with flowers. That same grit and hard work continues with the current members of the group who continue to support the bridge and it's plethora of petals.
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