Video by Chuck Baldwin and Denny McAuliffe

VERMILLION, S.D.—The Vermillion Parks Department has planted more than 1,000 flowers around town this spring to help beautify parks and sidewalks—but not just for the enjoyment of residents.

The human residents, that is.

Assistant supervisor Jessica Kennedy and city gardener Meg Mordhorst planted dozens of coral bells, impatiens, fuchsia, coleus and lamium in a flower bed at the corner of Main and Elm streets June 17.

“I try to put as many plants in the bed as possible,” Kennedy said. “And I try to pick different things that maybe the butterflies might like or the bees or the hummingbirds.”