Thousands of geraniums planted outside Resort, other Hagadone properties
BILL BULEY | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 38 minutes AGO
John Malee, The Coeur d'Alene Resort director of banquets, plants geraniums outside Hagadone Corp. headquarters on Tuesday morning.
BILL BULEY/Press
The "Giddyup Spa Cowgirls" pose with geraniums on Tuesday outside Whispers at The Resort. Back row from left, Kate Kurzweil, Ashley Buley, Bella Cochell, Nicole Medieros and Chantel Rogge. Middle row from left, Kara Whorton, Callie King, Tanaia Charland and Kayla Brazeau. Front row from left, Abbey Kriger and Natalie Miller.
Justin Lee, Resort executive chef, is decorated with balloons as he plants geraniums on Tuesday.
A geranium stands strong after being planted near The Resort on Tuesday.
Volunteers plant geraniums near the clocktower on Tuesday morning.
Food and Beverage Director Rick Powers pushes a cart of geraniums on Tuesday.
Matthew Blankenship, director of hotel operations, right, and Zach Brindley, plant geraniums outside The Resort.
Resort staffers plant geraniums across the street from Sherman Tower that is under construction.
Geraniums line the seawall by The Coeur d'Alene Resort.
A runner passes by the geraniums planted Tuesday by The Resort.
Bill Buley covers the city of Coeur d'Alene for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He has worked here since January 2020, after spending seven years on Kauai as editor-in-chief of The Garden Island newspaper. He enjoys running. | May 13, 2026 1:09 AM
The “Giddyup Spa Cowgirls” were having too much fun while getting down and dirty planting geraniums Tuesday morning at The Coeur d’Alene Resort.
“The most important day of our spa career,” said Ashley Buley, Spa assistant manager, with a big smile.
“I will say the two holidays of the year most important to The Resort are the Holiday Light Show and this,” added Callie King, Spa manager, laughing.
For Geranium Day, the Spa team was decked out in red cowboy hats, red shirts, neck scarves and Ashley Buley even wore red cowboy boots as they filled the patio outside Whispers with The Resort’s trademark seasonal geraniums.
King was confident they would defend their team title that earned the “Grand Champion Gardeners” trophy in 2025 that stood in The Spa for the past year.
She cited not only their efficiency and enthusiasm, but their willingness to dig into the task at hand.
“We just do a good job,” King said.
About 60 Resort staffers volunteered for the annual Geranium Day that sees some 40,000 of the flowers placed at The Resort, around the Boardwalk Marina, Hagadone Corp. headquarters, The Resort Golf Course, Hagadone Event Center, Hagadone Marine Center and other company properties.
Teams from different departments of The Resort were competing for bragging rights and the trophy that is graded in part on being the fastest and the best geranium planters.
Geranium Day’s roots can be traced to Resort founder, the late Duane Hagadone. His mom was a gardener, and the geranium was one of her favorites. Geranium Day has long been a beloved tradition that sees employees spending a few hours drilling holes, planting and packing the hardy flowers.
Last week, some got an early start by planting geraniums around the new water feature in front of The Resort. Geraniums require a lot of watering, fertilizing and pruning to stay beautiful.
“It’s a chance to give back to the community and really make it special,” Resort President Bill Reagan said.
Justin Lee, Resort executive chief, said the key is to find a good pace.
“Dig, plant. Dig, plant,” he said. “Once you get on a roll, you’re good.”
Kathy Reagan-Larson, a sales executive, has been part of Geranium Day for about 15 years and said teamwork is what counts.
“We all find our spot and we just do it,” she said.
Her role this year involved separating geraniums from their containers, a task that has come to be known as stripping.
"I was one of the strippers,” she said, laughing.
The "Giddyup Spa Cowgirls" pose with geraniums on Tuesday outside Whispers at The Resort. Back row from left, Kate Kurzweil, Ashley Buley, Bella Cochell, Nicole Medieros and Chantel Rogge. Middle row from left, Kara Whorton, Callie King, Tanaia Charland and Kayla Brazeau. Front row from left, Abbey Kriger and Natalie Miller.
Justin Lee, Resort executive chef, is decorated with balloons as he plants geraniums on Tuesday.
A geranium stands strong after being planted near The Resort on Tuesday.
Volunteers plant geraniums near the clocktower on Tuesday morning.
Food and Beverage Director Rick Powers pushes a cart of geraniums on Tuesday.
Matthew Blankenship, director of hotel operations, right, and Zach Brindley, plant geraniums outside The Resort.
Resort staffers plant geraniums across the street from Sherman Tower that is under construction.
Geraniums line the seawall by The Coeur d'Alene Resort.
A runner passes by the geraniums planted Tuesday by The Resort.
ARTICLES BY BILL BULEY
Thousands of geraniums planted outside Resort, other Hagadone properties
Thousands of geraniums planted outside Resort, other Hagadone properties
About 60 Resort staffers volunteered for the annual Geranium Day that sees some 40,000 of the flowers plant at The Resort, around the Boardwalk Marina, Hagadone Corp. headquarters, The Resort Golf Course, Hagadone Event Center, Hagadone Marine Center and other company properties.
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She and her husband Joshua, who worked in law enforcement, also have built and managed several small businesses, and she handled the financial side. They also owned and managed properties.
