State College will bloom this spring when the Public Works Department plants an array of colorful flowers in designated areas downtown.

This will be the second year that flowers will be planted downtown as part of a beautification project originally proposed by Borough Manager Peter Marshall.

Marshall worked previously as the city manager in Newark, Del., where a similar program was successfully carried out.

"It worked beautifully last year," Marshall said, "and we will try to continually improve it."

Public Works Operations Manager Mark Whitfield, in charge of the program this year, said it was initiated last year by the late borough arborist Jim Evans. Evans designated seven areas downtown where the flowers were planted, Whitfield said, and the same areas will be used this year.

The borough plans to designate additional areas each year, Whitfield said, but because a new arborist has not been appointed, the plants will be placed in the same areas as last year.

Andrea Cotner, who operates a greenhouse on Rock Road in Houserville, will design the flower beds slightly different than last year, when she worked with Evans.

Although the designs of the flower beds will be altered, one design that was a favorite of Evans will be kept intact in his memory.

Cotner said that when choosing which flowers to use she tries to find a "happy combination between the desired appearance and flowers which will thrive under borough conditions."

It is necessary to choose flowers which will thrive well in open sun and heat and do not require alot of extra attention, Cotner said.

"Last year the borough did an excellent job maintaining the flowers under the conditions," she said, noting that the flowers bloomed until early October despite dry weather of drought proportions.

Although the borough hopes to plant the flowers in early May, Cotner said, officials can't set a specific date because of unpredictable late winter weather conditions.

"I'm aiming for flowers that will also look nice in fall," Cotner said, "and last year I tried to avoid colors of opponent teams in the areas near the stadium."

Whitfield said flowers will be planted in traffic islands at the following locations:

-- University Drive and College Avenue.

-- University Drive and Nimitz Avenue.

-- Atherton and Allen Streets.

-- College Avenue and Atherton Street.

-- Hamilton Avenue and Westerly Parkway.

-- North Atherton Street and Woodland Drive.

-- The Pugh Street parking garage.

Whitfield said the borough has allotted $1,500 to $1,800 for the purchasing and planting of the flowers.

The program is worthwhile, said Penn State Horticulture Professor James Robert Nuss Jr., noting the great deal of positive feedback about the flowers. Nuss suggested other areas outside the region should try to improve their landscape in a similar way.

Nuss said the beautification program was a positive step in improving the appearance downtown and was done using conservation efforts.

"The flowers add color and seasonal interest," Nuss said.