Crabapple Route Bursts Into Bloom In Littleton

LITTLETON, CO – Littleton is the "Flowering Crabapple Capital of Colorado," according to a 2014 proclamation, and this weekend is the time to enjoy the 7,000 pink crabapple trees along the city's seven-mile crabapple route.

The trees were planted as part of a city beautification plan, starting in the late 1960s, according to the official webpage of the Littleton Crabapple Route. Home owners were encouraged to plant them as well, leading to a mono-culture of species around the city.

In 1969, Littleton's mayor, (nicknamed "patron saint of crabapples,") Vaughn Gardinier and his wife, Mary Gardinier, started the trend. In the 2010s, friends of the crabapples created a 501 (3)C tax-exempt not-for-profit to allow residents and supporters to donate to the cause.

The Littleton Crabapple Route is "seven easily-accessibly miles in the heart of Littleton where people drive, walk and bike to enjoy the fragrance and breathtaking beauty of these spring-blooming trees," according to the city.

Here's a map of the route:

To make a tax-deductible donation or volunteer your support, contact Littleton Crabapple Route, Inc. at P.O. Box 110, Littleton, CO 80160 or email littletoncrabappleroute@gmail.com.