Balloon Releases and their threat to wildlife

binnylou , totally agree. I hate balloons, especially those garish ones. And they can be dangerous. People from my father's church gave them to him during various illnesses. Dad kept them in the living room, tied to the arm of his rollator. Once when I turned the ceiling fan on, a balloon that had loosened escaped and was sucked over by the fan, wrapping its string around the base, blocking the on/off switch.    

I couldn't turn the fan off, I couldn't get anything into the tightly wound cord to cut it, and the can continued to run although it couldn't move, so it  heated up. Fortunately, a neighbor who also was a rehabber came over and figured out how to turn the fan off, w/o being attacked by the stuck blades, before it overheated.

I would hever have any balloons in my house.


I think your suggestion of tuplips for Katy is excellent.  It would be such a nice memorial to her mother, one that could be enjoyed for years by people in the town. Tulips are at least semi-permanent (mine tend to eventually produce less and less), and would be a visible memorial.

But I think I'd approach it on that level - a permanent memorial, as opposed to the wildlife danger or trash issue, wherever the balloons end up. Given that she's so generous, it can also be an opportunity for the town residents to express their gratitude, with something more permanent and visible.   (And lovely).    There have also been too many reports of wlldife or marine life with plastic in their stomachs. In a rural area, that might be more of a consideration than in a more metropolitan area, so I think people would understand.  

If you can afford it, you might avoid discussion of the issue by just telling her this is your way of honoring Katy by giving her some bulbs (perhaps in Katy's favorite color), and get the ball rolling. She may not even have thought of a concept such as a floral memorial.

I can't stand balloons and those who release them. Flying trash.

binnylou , You might approach it by pointing out that maybe a more lasting remembrance would be something people could see year after year, like tulips, or even daffodils. Is there an area in the town where people could actually go and plant the bulbs as a group? Then meet there yearly to add more. I know tulips are a big draw in your area (I'm thinking Pella) in the Spring, perhaps your home town could be a rival!

I agree with your husband. You should not approach the woman about this matter at this time. Instead, talk to the mayor about the practice, talk to city commissioners about it, talk to religious leader about it. These are persons who are in a position to discourage the practice broadly.

www.fws.gov/news/blog/index.cfm/2015/8/5/balloons-and-wildlife-please-dont-release-your-balloons