Community pride blossomed downtown Sunday as 30 elaborately decorated flower urns were installed around Fountain Square to kick off the Flower Power urban beautification project.

D Amanda Hogan and Janet Hill-Smith place plants and flowers in an urn-shaped planter. | ZOOM |	Lauren Altemuehle, 6, of Montgomery poses by an urn called "Begonia Boy." | ZOOM |
A butterfly, beetle and bee add color to a pot submitted by first graders from St. Catharine of Siena School. | ZOOM |	Judy Andersonıs "Chrysantha Mommie Dearest" and Cindy Hackneyıs "Hog Wild Flowers" are reflected in the granite surface. | ZOOM |
(Michael E. Keating photos)

        The Cincinnati Horticultural Society project is part of the Cincinnati Blooms 2002 celebration. It's similar to the 2000 Big Pig Gig, which dotted the city with hundreds of painted porkers.

        “It is hopefully a project that will bring some fun and restore some pride in downtown Cincinnati,” said Betsy Neyer, Cincinnati blooms marketing director, as artists dropped off their brightly colored urns Sunday.

        More than 200 urns will be displayed this month through Labor Day in downtown Cincinnati, Covington and Newport.

        As they waited for their urn to be installed, two first graders from St. Catharine of Siena School in Westwood trailed their fingers along it, pointing out areas they painted.

        The urn, called “Young Budding Artists,” featured themes of love and acceptance in its depiction of children of various races holding hands and smiling.

        Horticulture experts carefully selected a vibrant array of flowers for the fiberglass urns, designed to withstand heavy winds and sun.

        'Flower Power' special section

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