Barbara Holmes spends her days and nights putting 8-foot storks in people's yards.

The owner of Stork News of the CSRA is welcoming newborn babies to the Augusta-Aiken area one pink or blue fiberglass stork at a time.

Although she isn't the only one delivering storks in the area, they are the core of her business.

Ms. Holmes purchased the franchise business in 2006, and she drives within a 100-mile radius to fill orders for customers.

"It's a happy business. People are happy, and you're happy for them," Ms. Holmes said. "These storks are going to be around as long as I'm around."

Ms. Holmes, a resident of Trenton, S.C., was inspired to start the home-based business during her daughter's pregnancy. Ms. Holmes wanted a stork for family pictures, but she couldn't find one.

She learned about a franchise business, Stork News of America, owned by Fayetteville, N.C., resident Cheryl Young, who started the business from her home in 1984.

"I wanted a good quality stork where families could take pictures to last a lifetime," Ms. Holmes said.

The storks, which are 8 feet tall and 4 feet wide, are made of fiberglass. On one side, she writes the baby's name, birth weight and date of birth. On the other, she congratulates the new parents. Ms. Holmes has the storks waiting for families when they return home from the hospital.

Customers can rent them for three, five or seven days, and prices range from $49 to $69. Smaller, tabletop versions are available, along with mailbox bows, door banners and balloons.

Ms. Holmes offers additional services, such as baby showers; decorative diaper items such as cakes, animals or wreaths; and specialty baskets for moms or dads, grandparents and siblings.

Ms. Holmes, a full-time floral designer, has plans to open a store and is grooming her daughter to take over the business someday.

Reach LaTina Emerson at (706) 823-3227 or latina.emerson@augustachronicle.com.