The Odd Couple behind the Petunias
by Laurie Lounsbury

When a former door-to-door milkman and a retired automotive executive combined their creative efforts, the result was not a new-fangled car with an automatic milk dispenser.

Milkman Dale Boss and GM executive Bruce MacArthur, known around town as "The Odd Couple," found common ground when they embarked on Operation Petunia, a grand scheme to plant petunias from one end of town to the other along the town's main thoroughfare, U.S. 31.

The year was 1982, and Bruce was president of a newly formed group called Keep Charlevoix Beautiful (KCB). Dale went to one of their early meetings to see what MacArthur and his group were planning to do.

"They (KCB) wanted to get rid of a lot of the signs around town, and not allow any neon signs, so I thought I'd give them a bigger project to chew on," Dale said. He debuted his Operation Petunia idea at that early KCB meeting. Somewhat to Dale's surprise, Bruce glommed onto the idea like a wad of hot gum on a summer sandal.

Operation Petunia is now a tremendous source of community pride. But in its first year, the project was more of a community concern that a source of pride.

Dale caused a stink when he took liguid cow manure and copiously sprayed it in the downtown petunia beds. Overdoing it just a bit, the manure flowed into the street. Drivers were soon slipping and sliding in the mess while town council members stood by and yelled, "You're ruining the town!"

In spite of a slippery start, Operation Petunia has become a huge success, with 500-600 volunteers planting 50,000 petunias along five miles of road. Volunteers are rewarded with a free hot dog picnic in East Park when the work is done.

While Bruce MacArthur has moved on to other projects - namely the Charlevoix Community Pool - Dale and his wife Marilyn have stood by their petunias. The couple is on the road every morning by 6 a.m., driving the white petunia watering truck and bathing the flowers with fresh water every day.

Money for the petunias is raised through fund-raising events organized by Keep Charlevoix Beautiful. Click HERE for the full Petunia Story.