Flags, flowers and fun

COEUR d’ALENE — David Noad must be strong.

Over and over Thursday morning, he picked up large flower baskets and lifted them up to Bill Reagan and Emily Boyd, standing high in a lift. From there, they were placed in holders on light posts in downtown Coeur d’Alene.

“They’re not too heavy,” he said, smiling.

About 10 people spent nearly two hours hanging 190 flower baskets as part of the Flags & Flowers program through the Coeur d'Alene Downtown Association, which also recently put up 100 American flags.

The colorful flowers are set out in advance of Memorial Day weekend, which is expected to fill Coeur d’Alene with tourists and runners as the Coeur d’Alene Marathon is on Sunday.

The flowers, which were purchased from Aspen Nursery, are set up on Lakeside and Sherman avenues from First to Eighth streets. They will remain up through September and are watered daily.

“They’re beautiful,” said Boyd, executive director of the downtown association.

This year, the cost for the flags and flowers was about $20,000. About half was funded through donations.

Association staff, board members and volunteers pitched in and made their task look easy. There was plenty of laughter and stories were shared as they went about their work.

“It’s a well-run machine,” said a smiling Mark Robitaille, with the Coeur d'Alene Convention & Visitor Bureau.

Volunteer Becca Holloway carried flower baskets from the trailer on Sherman Avenue to the sidewalk, and set them by light posts.

She was glad to do her part for the association.

“I love all that they do for Coeur d’Alene,” she said “It’s nice to help out and get them ready for summer and Memorial Day weekend."

Reagan, president of The Coeur d’Alene Resort, was there when the first flowers were hung some 25 years ago and has volunteered every year since.

The flowers fare well, surprisingly well, even in the summer heat.

“I've never seen, and I still can’t figure out, why the flowers grow so well down here,” Reagan said.