Flower baskets are pride of Red Wing

Residents and visitors find much to admire in Red Wing, but the single amenity that usually is the first thing to catch their eye is the Pretty Red Wing Flower Baskets. More than 300 can be found all around the extended downtown area.

The idea for them dates to 1989.

"Phil Revoir, a local photographer at the time and a member of the Noontime Kiwanis Club, along with Henry Sorenson the former assistant public works director for Red Wing, came up with the idea of the hanging flower baskets. They thought it would have a bigger impact than the flower boxes," according to the city's Web site.

Revoir brought the idea the Kiwanis Club. After much discussion an agreement was reached with the city to undertake the project as a 50-50 partnership. When the city encountered budget troubles in recent years, Noontime Kiwanis took over 90-plus percent of the financing.

The first flower baskets went up in 1990 in LaGrange Park, which is adjacent to Riverfront Centre on Main Street. The number grew to 320 flower baskets.

Hallstrom Florist and Sargent's Nursery make the flower baskets each year. Both floral nurseries start working on the next year's baskets in November. By mid-May the flower baskets are already constructed and hung through downtown Red Wing.

They are watered every day by city employees, rain or shine.

Tags: community guide, about red wing