Lewes in Bloom prepares for Christmas Market Dec. 2

Lewes in Bloom is preparing for its Annual Christmas Market to be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 2, in the courtyard at St. Peter's Church, Second and Market streets, Lewes. Unique, handmade centerpieces, long-lasting greens, wreaths and other items will be sold to benefit Lewes in Bloom.

Each year, the Lewes Chamber of Commerce orchestrates the Annual Tulip Celebration which takes place in spring. But the preparation begins in the fall, when the chamber and Lewes in Bloom combine efforts to plant tulip and daffodil bulbs throughout the city. This is the ninth planting of tulips. Lewes in Bloom joined the effort in 2014, when 10,000 bulbs were planted.

The chamber pays for the bulbs, and Lewes in Bloom determines where they should be planted. More than 50 volunteers have now planted 19,501 tulip bulbs and 2,000 daffodil bulbs. After the tulips bloom in April (or sometimes May), the popular tulip dig occurs, when Lewes residents can dig up the plants and bulbs on a designated day. This is a very popular event.

Bulb counts by location are: 1812 Park, 2,770; Cannonball House, 500; Citizens Bank, 560; Lewes City Hall, 200; Dogfish Inn and Graves Uniform corners, 850 daffodils; Lewes Fire Department, 430; Gateway Garden, 4,300; George HP Smith Park, 1,150 daffodils; LHS Gift Shop, 219; Lewes Public Library, 1,000; Mary Vessels Park, 1,050; median strip 40; Otis Smith Park, 2,362; Lewes Post Office, 1,250; St. Peter's rain barrels, 175; Stango Park, 1,350; Ted's Tulip Library, 895; and Zwaanandael Park, 2,400.

For more information, go to lewesinbloom.org.