When Bill Reagan hung flowers in downtown Coeur d'Alene 25 years ago, he was the youngest of a small crew.

Thursday morning, with about 20 people pitching in, Reagan smiled as he said he noticed a change: He was the oldest of the bunch.

"No one looks older than me," the president of The Coeur d'Alene Resort said, laughing.

No matter the age difference, the result was the same: a spirited group flowers adding color and warmth to downtown.

The Coeur d'Alene Downtown Association's Flags and Flowers program installs 170 flower baskets and 70 American flags that line the streets of downtown Coeur d'Alene. 

The flower baskets are tended to daily for four months by the Downtown Association’s maintenance team. 

The program is funded entirely by donations. From install to take down, the program costs about $25,000.

Mark Robitaille, executive director of the Coeur d'Alene Convention and Visitors Bureau, liked what he saw when they were finished.

"Now look," he said. "It's beautiful."

Cody Hodgson with Welch Comer helped for the second year, handing flower baskets to those on the lifts.

The volunteer role came with a benefit.

"I smell good at the end," he said.

Reagan hasn't missed a year of the annual tradition before Memorial Day weekend of hanging flower baskets on Sherman and Lakeside avenues.

The main difference between Thursday and years past were the gray, cloudy skies and light rain.

"Usually it's always sunny when you do this," he said.

In those first years, Reagan said, they climbed up ladders and carried flower baskets on their heads.

Finally, with worries growing someone might fall, ladders were replaced with lifts, a bit easier and safer.

Reagan didn't like the switch initially but came around.

"I wouldn't go up on a ladder today," he said, laughing.

Donations can be made oat cdadowntown.com/flower-baskets or mailed to the Coeur d'Alene Downtown Association, 105 N. First St., Suite 100 Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814.

    Cody Hodgson with Welch Comer helps put up a flower basket Thursday in downtown Coeur d'Alene.