MISSOULA — An annual downtown tradition has returned and expanded!
The Downtown Missoula Partnership installed 150 flower baskets downtown on Wednesday, expanding the annual program to include 40 baskets on Beartracks Bridge for the first time.
The new baskets come just in time for the University of Montana's spring commencement and Mother's Day this weekend.
This initiative, which has been an annual downtown tradition since 1981, is funded by the Missoula Downtown Association and supported by local donors, including Pink Grizzly Greenhouse.
The baskets, designed and crafted by Montana artist Russell Smith in 1981, aim to enhance the vibrant atmosphere of downtown. They'll be maintained by the Downtown Dream Team, who will water the plants seven days a week.
“This is one of my favorite placemaking initiatives we execute for Downtown,” says DMP Operations Coordinator Jake Treece, who oversees the program. “I’m excited to help expand it in 2025. Downtown is already beautiful during the warmer months, and this program enhances the aesthetic of the public right-of-way while adding extra vibrancy to storefront exteriors — all while helping the Garden City live up to its name.”
