PORT ORCHARD — Bay Street merchants have added a flourish along downtown sidewalks to signal the arrival of spring with traditional May Day flower baskets.

Participating businesses have added colorful baskets filled with blooming flowers in front of their storefronts, timed, as it turns out, with the arrival of sunny weather and elevated temperatures. Their bright floral creations are part of a Port Orchard Bay Street Association competition to determine which merchant came up with the most creative, colorful and uniquely decorated May Day basket.

Coreen Haydock, co-owner of The Dock Bar & Eatery in the Port Orchard Public Market and POBSA member, said visitors and shoppers to Bay Street have until Saturday, May 4, to select their favorite May Day basket. Voting ballots are available at participating businesses.

Twenty-five Bay Street merchants have decorated and displayed baskets, Haydock said.

A vintage child’s wagon carries blooming plants as part of a Bay Street merchants’ May Day basket competition, which runs through Saturday, May 4. (Courtesy photo)