An Alley Upgrade

Chris Beytes

Wave Petunias are lending big color—as in 16-ft. wide by 13-ft. high—to the town of Batavia, Illinois, where this mural was unveiled June 27. GrowerTalks was there to document the festivities, which included a speech by Batavia Mayor Jeffery Schielke, Wave giveaways and a local radio station.

The artist, Angie Maioriello, is a freelance illustrator and muralist. That’s her in green, with PanAmerican Seed’s Ping Ren, breeder of many Wave petunia colors. Other staff and dignitaries were on hand, as well, including Susannah Ball and PanAmerican Seed President Anne Leventry.

A plaque adjacent to the mural reads, “In an effort to inspire flower enthusiasts everywhere, the larger-than-life Wave Petunia mural is dedicated to the idea that Wave Petunias go far #beyondTheBloom. Wave Petunias spark smiles, happy moments and human connections … and we hope this mural does the same.”

Mayor Schielke (inset) certainly believes the colorful mural brightens up the area. Author of the local history of his town, the mayor said that 130 years ago the street the mural is on used to be a ditch into which old milk from a nearby creamery was dumped and the locals dubbed it “Buttermilk Alley.” Then the limestone walls from a burned-down school were used to roughly pave the ditch and residents renamed it ‘Ugly Alley.”

Said the mayor to the gathered crowd, “I’m going to proclaim that what we now have is ‘Beautiful Alley.’” GT