PORTLAND, Ore. — The second annual Bloom Tour kicks off in Portland on Saturday, May 11.
There are nearly 30 floral installations adorning small businesses, restaurants and hotels, each uniquely created by local florists and artists. Downtown Portland Clean and Safe is putting on the event and calls it 'part walking tour and part art show.'
"People have a month to check it out," said Sydney Mead, with Downtown Portland Clean and Safe and the Portland Metro Chamber. "We're expecting tens of thousands of people to check out the tour walk through the streets of Portland, check out their old favorite stores and maybe find some new favorites as well."
Mead and her team aim to bring more people into downtown and with that, an influx of support for local businesses.
A vibrant pink and yellow installation sits over the doorway of Event Cosmetics near Tenth and Taylor.
"Portland is my home, but being from Barbados, I always carry a tropical energy with me," said Katherine Sealy, owner of the beauty boutique and spa.
Sealy's home county was the inspiration for the floral art, bringing a sense of island life to the Rose City.
"Know that the people behind the exhibits poured their heart into it and it's because we love the city, and we want others to remember how much they love the city," Sealy said.
Sealy's owned this particular location near the Central Library for the past six years. She's continually facing many of the issues plaguing downtown Portland.
In early April, KGW reported that Portland Police upped patrols in the area after calling the block a "fentanyl hotspot."
Just a few weeks ago, the city continued their work to curb drug use near the library by installing new lights.
Sealy says she's seen an improvement.
"Unless we take personal ownership and care about our own community, it's not going to change," she said. "It’s a day in and day out battle, and that's exactly why having a program like the Bloom Tour is so essential to our survival."
For Sealy, the tour is about much more than beautiful flowers. It's a chance to reinvigorate the city she loves.
"We care because it’s our life’s blood and our life’s work," Sealy added.
The tour will run through June 11.
Here's a list of participating locations:
Lan Su Chinese Garden with artist: Bentley Fleurs
239 NW Everett St.
Instagram: @lansuchinesegarden & @bentleyfleurs
Blue Sky Gallery with artist: Flora Kultur
122 NW 8th Ave.
Instagram: @blueskygallerypdx & @florakulturpdx
World Foods with artist: Flower Club PDX
830 NW Everett St.
Instagram: @worldfoodspdx & @flowerclubpdx
Travel Portland Visitor Center with artist: Gone West PDX
1132 SW Harvey Milk St.
Instagram: @worldfoodspdx and @gonewestpdx
Portland Gear with artist: Chelle Floral Design
403 SW 10th Ave.
Instagram: @portlandgear & @chellefloraldesign
Mercantile Portland with artist: Fresita Floral
729 SW Alder St.
Instagram: @mercantileportland
Amity Artisan Goods with artist: Jackelope Floral
962 SW Morrison St.
Instagram: @ravensmanor & @jackelopefloral
The Joinery with artist: The Wild Bluebell
922 SW Yamhill St.
Instagram: @thejoinery
Crafty Wonderland with artist: Sierra Wahlke
808 SW 10th Ave.
Instagram: @craftywonderland and @shadyladyhandmadepdx
Taylor Street Kitchen with artist: In-house
1125 SW Taylor St.
Instagram: @taylorstreetkitchen
Event Cosmetics Boutique & Spa with artist: Goose Hollow Flowers
1008 SW Taylor St.
Instagram: @event_cosmetics and @goosehollowflowers
Hendrix & McGuire Optical with artist: Gifford’s Flowers
925 SW Taylor St.
Instagram: @hendrixmcguire
Flowers Tommy Luke with artist: In-house
712 SW 12th Ave.
Instagram: @cityflowerstommyluke
Southpark Seafood with artist: Gifford’s Flowers
901 SW Salmon St.
Instagram: @southparkseafood and @giffordsflowers
The Paramount Hotel with artist: Flowers Tommy Luke
808 SW Taylor St.
Instagram: @paramount_pdx & @cityflowerstommyluke
Director Park with artist: Tulip Cowboy
815 SW Park Ave.
Instagram: @directorparkevents and @tulipcowboy
Elephants Delicatessen @ Fox Tower with artist: Foralia.A
812 SW Park Ave.
Instagram: @elephantsdeli
Nordstrom with artist: Honor Floral
701 SW Broadway
Instagram: @nordstromportland & @honorfloral
Columbia Sportswear with artist: Geranium Lake Flowers
911 SW Broadway
Instagram: @columbia1938 and @geraniumlakes
Gifford’s Flowers with artist: In-house
704 SW Jefferson St.
Instagram: @giffordsflowers
Elephants Delicatessen @ The World Trade Center with artist: Foralia.A
808 SW 10th Ave.
Instagram: @elephantsdeli
The Fossil Cartel with artist: Rachel Galloway
333 SW Taylor St. #150
Instagram: @thefossilcartel
Pioneer Place with artist: RPS
5th & Morrison Corner
Instagram: @pioneerplace and @roycespropshop
The Luxury Exchange with artist: Jen Rich
528 SW 3rd Ave.
Instagram: @theluxuryexchangepdx and @richearthdesigns
Raven’s Manor with artist: Gone West PDX
235 SW 1st Ave.
Instagram: @ravensmanor & @gonewestpdx
Westward Whiskey
65 SE Washington St.
Instagram: @westwardwhiskey
Smith Teamaker
110 SE Washington St.
Instagram: @smithteamaker
Cargo
81 SE Yamhill St.
Instagram: @cargoinc
Bloom Annex Event
1010 SE Water Ave.
Instagram: @centraleastside