Spring is in full swing here in Coeur d’Alene, with summer just around the corner. This time of year brings rain, and shine, and blooms throughout town. It is also the time of year that downtown Coeur d’Alene is adorned with beautiful hanging flower baskets along Sherman and Lakeside avenues, thanks to the Coeur d’Alene Downtown Association’s partnership with Aspen Nursery.
2025 marks the 19th year of the Downtown Flags & Flowers Program. Clinton Baxter, who has been a grower at Aspen Nursery just as long, first implemented the hanging basket program “to utilize more monetary space in the greenhouses. Coeur d’Alene was immediately on our radar because what better way to advertise?” he smiles.
Aspen Nursery provided downtown Coeur d’Alene the first hanging baskets in 2007, providing 140 beautifully curated flower basket arrangements. Today, the nursery provides 210 baskets annually to the Coeur d’Alene Downtown Association, with the association of businesses receiving the baskets at a discounted price (with an approximate $20,000 retail value). The hanging baskets are complemented by waving American flags. The Flags & Flowers Program is entirely funded through donations.
“It takes about two days to plant and three months of care for the grouping as a whole,” Clint replies when asked about how much time goes into caring for each basket. Aspen Nursery delivers the baskets, while a group of volunteers do the hanging. “They are impressively hung on the same morning as we are delivering,” Clinton notes. Basket will be hung on Thursday, May 22!
Aspen Nursery also provides the baskets for the streets in Post Falls, including the bridge. “While shopping in the Riverstone District,” Clinton adds,” you may also enjoy the baskets and many of the flowers provided by our nursery and handled by Elements Landscaping.”
He concludes with a fun tidbit: “The baskets can weigh up to 80 pounds when fully grown.”
Thank you to Aspen Nursery, Coeur d’Alene Downtown Association and its donors for your dedication and support to keeping downtown Coeur d’Alene a stunning destination for our locals and all who visit.
For those who would like to support the Flags & Flowers Program, visit CdaDowntown.com/flower-baskets. To find out more about Aspen Nursery and all they have to offer, visit AspenNursery.com.
