Riley spreads good, goosy news for the first time ever.
Marshalltown, Iowa, has found itself as the setting for a love story that could rival Twilight. Riverside Cemetery was a common place for geese to gather in the warm months. One of these geese decided to stay and was named Blossom. After being widowed, the people of Marshalltown joined together to find Blossom a second chance for love.
Blossom originally came to the cemetery towing another goose with her named Bud. Unfortunately, Bud met his end in 2023 and left Blossom all on her own. She began to act out in the cemetery, taking her anger out on doors and walking mats. Dorie Tammen, general manager of the cemetery, says she was “Standing in front of our office door and pecking on the glass, and then she's pooing on our doormat.” Blossom isolated herself from the other Geese and wandered around the cemetery without much purpose. She would weave around tombstones all day long. This behavior led workers at the cemetery to believe that Blossom was in dire need of a new partner. In a Facebook post made by the Riverside Cemetery, they advertise Blossom as “youthful, adventurous, and lively.”
Luck came quickly for Blossom when, on Valentine’s Day, a potential partner was on his way. Goose bachelor, Frankie, previously belonged to a couple moving out of Iowa. Deb and Randy Hoyt, the couple, ran a rescued horse farm and adopted Frankie with another goose. Similarly to Blossom, Frankie lost his former partner after she had laid eggs. Even more depressing, the eggs were crushed and eaten by the same creature that attacked his partner. According to the Washington Post, “For months, Frankie, who’s around 3 years old, searched for Gretel around the farm, honking and staying outside his shed at night.” After seeing the advertisement put up by the cemetery, the Hoyts arranged a Valentine’s Day date for the two geese.
The initial meeting, unfortunately, went sour. As soon as his cage was opened, Frankie flew away. The next morning, Frankie was discovered just outside the cemetery and herded back towards the office. Finally, Blossom and Frankie met up with each other and, according to an interview with CBS, “They started walking off together, and they haven’t really left each other’s side since.” Ever since their meeting, Blossom and Frankie have been seen wandering around the cemetery together. They rarely visit the office anymore, which had once been a common behavior in Blossom.
The Riverside Cemetery still posts occasional updates on their mascot goose couple. The couple have recently become parents and can be seen strolling the cemetery with a herd of goslings trailing behind them. The two geese have brought together the small town in Iowa. Tammen notes that the cemetery gets sent love poems about the two geese frequently. All it took was a Facebook ad to make a romance that bests some of the most famous stories.
Dorie Tammen- KCCI interview