Students helped plant flowers and other plants in the downtown and waterfront in what has become an annual tradition.

Each spring, Houghton seniors make an agreement with the city council to help pay for their annual lock-in, where they spend the night in the school building to celebrate their graduation. If more than 25 help out, they get $500 — plus another $250 if 35 or more showed up.

They’ll get their $750. At least 40 students were out planting Wednesday morning, said senior Stella Wickstrom.

She was part of a group that had planted kale before moving down to plant flowers near the peace poles by Bridgeview Park.

Garrett Neese/DMG

“I really think it’s a good thing to get in touch with this part of the community,” she said. “If any of us seniors want to do this in the summer, or just want to come and do this, I think it’s a good thing for them to know that this is here, and this is something we can do for the community.”

Garrett Neese/DMG