Daffodil Day on Oct. 6 Kicks Off Livingston Bicentennial

When Livingston celebrates its bicentennial birthday in 2013, the township will be covered in thousands of blooming daffodils to mark the occasion.

Arlene Johnson, co-chair of the Livingston Bicentennial Committee, has arranged for 20,000 daffodil bulbs to be sent to the township for residents and businesses to plant in the upcoming month.  The committee's plan is that if the bulbs are planted in October, they will be in full bloom in March.

 “The feeling is that you can drive all around town and see the daffodils welcoming you to the bicentennial,” said Johnson.

The committee will be holding their first town wide planting event in conjunction with Livingston’s homecoming on Oct. 6 at the Oval.  The event will go from 1-3 p.m. and will feature volunteers and landscapers beginning to plant the daffodils.

The bulbs will be sold on a first come, first serve basis.  The prices for the bulbs will be 10 bulbs for $3, 20 bulbs for $5 and 50 bulbs for $10.  Each private household will be limited to 50 bulbs, while businesses can purchase up to 500 for a mass planting.

“If a business has a place to plant the bulbs, they should at least buy 200 to make an impact,” said Johnson.

The Livingston Bicentennial Committee has been meeting for almost two years and Daffodil Day is expected to be the kickoff to a long celebration fitting for a 200th birthday.

“The most fabulous kickoff is to have the whole town participating in the planting,” said Judith Heller, communications director for the committee.  “It’s really about reaching out and embracing many different generations to get involved.”

The bulbs are available to be bought by residents at different events around town. 

Bulbs will be sold on Oct. 6 at Daffodil Day, from 12-3 p.m.  Residents can also buy them on Oct. 7 at Art at the Oval from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

On Oct. 27 and 28, bulbs will be sold at both the Livingston Public Library, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and at the Livingston Soccer Club’s Carpini cup games.

More information on the bicentennial celebration can be on the committee’s website or by contacting them at LivingstonNJ200@gmail.com.