Beauty in a basket in the planning for Carson City 2010

Although Nevada Day and Halloween have come and gone and winter is close upon us, it is time to order your flower basket sponsorship to beautify Carson City next summer. Carson City is proud to announce the second year of the Flower Basket Program in downtown! There are 91 baskets planned in downtown and around Carson City. Become a sponsor and enjoy a "sponsored by" sign in downtown and partnership mention on the downtow

nanswers.com Web site.

This past summer hanging flower baskets adorned Carson City streets, adding color and texture all over town. They were sponsored by people, businesses and organizations dedicated to creating a lush look for Carson City's downtown and surrounding areas. The flower basket program was inspired by the Carson City Cultural Commission for a more attractive floral display for our capital city.

The goal of the program is to create beauty throughout town with plants and flowers. The volunteers running the program want the WOW factor to stop people and get them out to enjoy the many fun activities throughout town all summer and fall.

You can be a part of celebrating Carson City, too. Order a beautiful flower basket for your building frontage and/or sponsor one on a downtown pole. Basket sponsorship costs $225 per basket or $400 for two baskets for the growing season. You will receive one wall-mount or one pole-mount flower basket system, installed, planted and maintained for you from the first week of June through the first week of October. Double baskets also are available. Your business gets all the beauty without any of the work.

Are you trying to think of a special gift for that special someone? A flower basket is a great gift idea to say "I Love You" for Christmas, Hanukkah, birthday, anniversary, birth announcement, proposal, graduation or other special occasion.

Get your order form or order today online at www.downtownanswers

.com. Flower basket orders will be taken now through Dec. 31. If you have questions please call Karen Abowd 232-8626.

Remember there are only 91 baskets available.

• JoAnne Skelly is the Carson City/Storey County Extension educator for University of Nevada Cooperative Extension and may be reached at skellyj@unce.unr.edu or 887-2252.