So Thirsty...
197 Island Flower Baskets ‘Drinking’ a Gallon a Day

“When the weather is like this, I have to water every day,” said Joe Porcaro, who has been watering all the city’s hanging baskets for the last four years. Mackinac Island has experienced a week of sunny, 80-degree-plus temperature days and that affects the watering schedule and the amount of water used. Normally, the plants would take in about one quart of water, but in this heat, he finds each of the city’s 197 baskets requires almost a gallon of water. The watering process takes him just under four hours, but next week, when he removes dead stems, it will take about eight hours, said Mr. Porcaro. The city contracts with Weber Floral of St. Ignace and Mackinac Island to care of its planters.