Flowers and Art: City of Edmonds Debuts New Hanging Baskets

The streets of downtown Edmonds are a little more colorful today as the City's Parks and Maintenance Department is installing its iconic flower baskets around town.

About 135 baskets will be placed today and Thursday.

Although most of the flower baskets are topped on wooden, hooked-shaped poles, a few of the City's new metal poles are also up. They are part of the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department's .

Businesses and citizens can make a one season donation of $100 per basket. The donation helps offset the cost of the City’s flower program, and the donor gets recognition on the basket.

The contribution to have a plaque on the pole is $2,000, for the artwork and commemorative plaque, similar to Edmonds' bench program.

The new poles also feature artwork on top, designed by three different artists.

Although not all of the new poles were up today, they will be shortly, said City of Edmonds Cultural Services manager Frances Chapin.

The city maintains 133 flower baskets in Edmonds, as well as 163 flower beds in 36 locations.

Edmonds' flower baskets are part of the City's street beautification program, which also includes flower beds in front of businesses.

The beautification program which also includes flower beds in front of businesses, started in the mid 1970s. (The Edmonds Floretum Club, on its Web site, notes that in 1956 it worked with the Chamber of Commerce to make 50 hanging baskets for downtown beautification.)

Come see the color!