SWANNANOA, N.C. — A burst of color now graces the landscape of Swannanoa Library Park, where Hurricane Helene destroyed the town half a year ago.
Dutch Grown, a floral company based in the Netherlands, donated more than 10,000 flower bulbs to the town. These flowers have already started blooming, symbolizing resilience and growth in a community still healing from the impact of this storm.
Just months ago, the western part of North Carolina was filled with debris from the storm. Now, vibrant red and yellow tulips bloom, adding beauty back into this mountain town for the community to enjoy.
For residents, the flowers are more than just a gift, they are a symbol of hope. Rachel Zee, a community member who shared photos of the tulips on social media, reflected on the personal significance of the donation.
“It’s nice to look forward to beauty after all this pain,” she shared after loosing her uncle when the storm’s floodwaters took his life just two miles from the park. “It’s nice to look forward to beauty after all this pain,” she shared after loosing her uncle when the storm’s floodwaters took his life just two miles from the park.
The company is run by two brothers, Ben and Pete Rotteveel, who shipped these flower bulbs from their farm in Voorhout, Holland.
“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow," Dutch Grown said in a statement. "That belief is our gift to Swannanoa and everyone in western North Carolina.”
