Nov. 10, 2026
Heart of Brevard
Jonathan Rich
Brevard Beagle.com
With downtown planters no longer included in the city’s budget, the Heart of Brevard downtown business district has created a long-term, community-driven beautification initiative to ensure Main Street and its cross streets remain more vibrant, welcoming, and cared for throughout the year.
The first phase began on Nov. 10 when several shifts of volunteers planted daffodil bulbs throughout downtown.
This planting brought the initial volunteer group of 25 gardeners together Tuesday afternoon and laid the groundwork for future planting, weeding, cleanup and litter pickup events that aim to complement the city’s existing adopt-a-green-space program. Girl Scout Troop 10181 assisted in the daffodil planting later in the afternoon.
“Downtown Brevard belongs to all of us, and so does caring for it,” explained Heart of Brevard Executive Director Nicole Bentley. “This initiative lets us step in where help is needed and build something that lasts.”
Volunteers coordinated by the downtown business district hope these aesthetic improvements, which will later include seasonal pole banners and decorations, fresh paint and other small projects, will make a visible difference over time.
More than 700 daffodil bulbs were planted throughout the downtown business district Tuesday. While daffodils are not native to western North Carolina, they were chosen to bring color to downtown in late winter and early spring, and because they return year after year without replanting.
“We’re committed to native plants downtown, and we know daffodils aren’t one of them,” said Brevard Mayor Maureen Copelof in a news release. “They bloom when little else does, require very little care, and unlike annuals they come back every spring. Most of the other plants in the bump-outs are native and provide support for our pollinators. What makes an initiative like this work is people pitching in. Whether it’s a morning of planting or adopting a green space of your own, I hope our community will lend a hand.”
The next planned downtown beautification project is tentatively scheduled for April when volunteers will plant native species in Clemson Plaza and the Jimmy Harris Railroad Depot in conjunction with Brevard’s annual downtown clean-up day.
“Think of it as a flower brigade with muddy knees and big smiles,” said Heart of Brevard Volunteer Coordinator Jeff Theriot. “You don’t need a green thumb, just a couple of hours and a willingness to get your hands dirty. We’d love to have you.”
For more information about volunteering for Heart of Brevard events, visit brevardnc.org/volunteer.