FLOWER DAYS

 There are now quite a number of days which may be called 'flower days." 

01/01-New Year's is noted as a time when flowers are sent to friends. 

01/29- When McKinley's birthday January 29th comes almost every one in the large cities wears a pink or red carnation- President McKinley's favorite flower. 

02/14-No lover will forget Valentine's Day, February 14th, which is supposed to be the mating time for birds, and he would be dull indeed, who neglected to send a Valentine to his lady love, and what is better than a box of beautiful fragrant flowers! 

Easter is of all days, the one when flowers are the most in demand, not only are the churches decorated, but every young man thinks he must have a box of flowers to send to his best girl.

May Day is the day when all lovers give to their fair "ladye" a basket of beautiful blossoms, when even the children and old people exchange May baskets and it is truly the festival of flowers.  

Mother's Day is a more recent memorial day for the mothers and during the past few years it has become an almost universal custom, to on that day wear a flower of any kind in memory of your mother, white flowers are worn if the mother is dead, while any color of flower answers the purpose for the living. 

The first Sunday in May is generally recognized as Mother's Day in Europe, while in The USA this is The Second Sunday in May.

05/30- "Memorial Day," or "Decoration Day", as it is called is the people's day and while it was primarily instituted on May 30th in memory of the soldiers, still it is now a time for decorating the graves of any of our friends, who have passed away and it is a beautiful custom.

On the first Monday in September- Labor Day is celebrated. While it is not usually considered a day for flowers, still during the past few years almost everyone. who marches in the Labor Day procession. wants to have his coat lapel decorated with some bright flower. and it has become a custom for them to wear an Aster on this gala day. In this city last Labor Day there were about seven thousand men marching in line and the majority never had worn flowers before, except on previous Labor Days. 

Thanksgiving is the time for home coming, and we cannot enjoy the feast, which is spread to the fullest extent, unless the table is properly decorated with flowers. 

Christmas is the day for giving gifts in memory of the Great Gift, which we all received. We like to do what we can to brighten the lives of others. and what helps more than a beautiful bunch of bright flowers. when perhaps all outside is covered with snow and appears so dreary? Christmas is also the time for Holly and Evergreen, and the windows everywhere are filled with Christmas wreaths of Holly and Lycopodium. 

When we consider how much flowers do to brighten our lives and perhaps our homes, we feel that it is impossible to have too many of them. We should make them part of our daily life. We need them in our homes, in our churches and they will add grace and beauty everywhere. It is proper. therefore. that they should be made prominent on all of our holidays and gala occasions. and the presenting of flowers is the highest compliment we can make to those whom we love, or to the public, orator, singer, or actress. They are not only used for funerals and weddings. but for school commencements. banquets. festivals. and on almost all occasions. 

References:

1.Home Floriculture A Complete Guide for the GROWING OF FLOWERS in the HOUSE and GARDEN CUT FLOWER WORK LANDSCAPE GARDENING ETC PAGE'S 

BY CHAS N PAGE AUTHOR FEATHERED PETS AQUARIA ETC PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR DES MOINES IOWA 

2.TREES A HANDBOOK OF FOREST BOTANY FOR THE WOODLANDS AND THE LABORATORY Harry BY MARSHALL WARD Sc D FRS Fellow of Sidney Sussex College Hon Fellow of Christ's College and Professor of Botany in the University of Cambridge Author of The Oak Timber and some of its Diseases Grasses Disease in Plants c VOLUME III FLOWERS AND INFLORESCENCES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS CAMBRIDGE at the University Press 1905