Flower baskets arrive in time for concert season

Forty-eight flower baskets arrived in downtown Carson City this week, just in time to kick off the summer activity season.

Downtown Farmer's Market activities have already begun, and the first of nine Friday's @ Third outdoor concerts kicks off this weekend when classic rock band Pawn-shop plays at The Firkin & Fox.

"We want to shine in Carson City this summer, and hard work and a positive attitude will help every business earn customers," said Karen Abowd of the Carson City Cultural Commission.

The commission's Greenhouse Project raised $10,941 through sponsorship donations, which have provided resources for the baskets. The flower globes will adorn Carson City's downtown streetlight poles and some individual businesses and civic buildings, like the Carson City Library.

"Street beauty brings people in to enjoy the many fun activities in downtown and throughout town all summer and fall," said Hanna McIntosh, owner of downtown's Vital Signs, a project partner.

For $225 per basket, sponsors receive one wall mount or one pole mount flower basket system, installed, planted and maintained from June through October.

Greenhouse Garden Center business owner David Ruff said that $4,871 was paid to Nevada's Own Perennials in Smith Valley to grow the 48 baskets in a heated greenhouse.

Ruf had suggested the baskets be grown this way to include local farmers and to have a practice year before the baskets are grown next year in a new Carson City greenhouse. Flowers selected this year are all wave petunias, a low-maintenance variety that blooms throughout the season.

Abowd said $6,000 was paid to Carson City Parks and Recreation Department for a part-time employee to water and care for the baskets.

"We built that amount into our overall fundraising goal and the city this year can help make this happen," said Abowd.

Plans for the Greenhouse Project next year include having the baskets planted by Carson High School students under the direction of master gardener volunteers in the new Carson City greenhouse to be located at the school. Groundbreaking for the greenhouse is scheduled for sometime in July.