Popular U.S. Flower Festivals to See This Spring

Day Tripping Throuigh hooming Daler A Look at U.S. Flower Festivals Spring is around the corner, which means preparing yourself for a colorful world of petals, stems, and pollen. Let's take a look at some of the greatest flower festivals this country has to offer. Rochester, NY Holland, MI Wenatchee, WA Portland, OR Meriden, CT Washington, D.C. Lancaster, CA Catawba, SC Carlsbad, CA Muskogee, OK The National Cherry Blossom Festival Washington, D.C. March-April * In 1912, Mayor Yukio Oazaki of Tokyo offered a gift of cherry trees to the nation's capital. The annual celebration marks the lasting friendship between Japan and the U.S. Flower: Japanese cherry blossom (sakura) The Tidal Basin and Potomac Park areas feature over 3,700 cherry blossom trees of several varieties, the most prominent of which include: * Yoshino * Events include: Kwanzan Akebono * Bike tours Fugenzo * Japanese cultural activities Shirofugen * The Blossom Kite Festival * A fireworks show * Weeping Cherry Fun fact: Cherry blossom is Japan's national flower and symbolizes renewal and hope. The Flower Fields Carlsbad, CA March-May * Flower: Giant Tecolote Ranunculus (Persian Buttercup, Ranunculus Asiatic) The Flower Fields at the Carlsbad Ranch offers music, workshops, and events for all ages, set against a beautiful flower backdrop. * The Carlsbad Ranch dedicates over 50 acres of rolling hillside to raising the ranunculus crop. Fun fact: "Ranunculus" comes from Latin for "little frog." California Poppy Festival Lancaster, ÇA April The California Poppy Festival offers two days of music, art, food, and activities celebrating * Flower: California poppy (golden poppy, California sunlight, cup of gold) California's state flower and the seasonal bloom in Antelope Valley. * Visitors can explore 4 performance stages throughout the festival grounds: * The Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve offers one of the most abundant crops of California poppies in the state. * Poppy Stage (music) * Primrose Stage (dancers and vocalists) * International Stage (ethnic music and dance) * Adventure Zone (animal conservation and education shows) Fun fact: The poppy was used as an offering to the dead in Greek and Roman mythology. Meriden Daffodil Festival Meriden, CT April The crowning of "Little Miss Daffodil" * Flower: Daffodil (jonquil, narcissus, daffadowndilly) kicks off the annual spring celebration that includes food, pony rides, crafts, music, and a fireworks display. * The main events occur in Hubbard Park among 650,000 blooming daffodils. Fun fact: The Isles of Scilly, an archipelago off the coast of Great Britain, pays an annual rent of a single daffodil to the Duchy of Cornwall. Muskogee Azalea Festival Muskogee, OK April Drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors Flower: Azalea each year, the Muskogee Azalea Festival highlights the beauty of spring while bringing the community together with food, a parade, and carriage rides through the city. * In 40 acres of lush gardens, Honor Heights Park houses 625 varieties of azalea and over 30,000 plants. Fun fact: The name "azalea" comes from the Greek word for dry, referring to how the flower grows in dry soil. The Washington State Apple Blossom Festival Wenatchee, WA April-May The 11-day festival began in 1919 and currently draws thousands of visitors Flower: Apple blossom * The apple blossom was from all over the world. chosen as the star of this festival to signify the importance of the apple industry to the region. * Attractions include: * A carnival * The Washington apple industry produces about * An annual golf tournament * The Grand Parade 100 million boxes of apples each season. Fun fact: The apple blossom is the state flower of both Michigan and Arkansas, though the latter is no longer a major producer of apples. Tulip Time Festival Holland, MI May Tulip Time is a weeklong celebration of Holland's Dutch heritage, featuring events, special attractions, and * Flower: Tulip * The festival is home to about 4.5 million tulips planted throughout town in city parks and gardens and along city streets. authentic Dutch cuisine. * The festival is known for its 3 parades. * Volksparade (People's Parade) Best bloom views: * Window on the Waterfront * Kinderparade (Children's Parade) * Centennial Park * Muziekparade (Music Parade) * Tulip Lanes (starting at 12th St. and River Ave.) Fun fact: The word "tulip" derives from the Persian word "dulband," meaning turban, referring to the shape of the flower's petals. The Tilac Festival Rochester, NYMay * Flower: Lilac The Lilac Festival is a 10-Day celebration that kicks off the area's The Highland Park Gardens feature the largest lilac collection in the United States with summer festival season over 500 varieties of lilacs on 1,200 plants. * The festival features: Other flowers to explore * The Lilac Parade * The Lilac Run (5k and 10k) * Wine and chocolate tasting * A craft beer garden at Highland Park: * Magnolias * 700 varieties of rhododendron * Azaleas * Mountain laurel Fun fact: White lilacs represent purity and innocence, while purple lilacs represent first love. The Portland Rose Festival Portland, OR June The first Portland Rose Festival was held in 1907 Flower: Rose and continues to this The Lloyd Center Ice Rink hosts the Annual Spring Rose Show, giving way to day. over 4,000 blooms. The official rose of the 2015 Rose Festival is the * Main events include: Velvet Majesty. * The Grand Floral Parade * Rozone Concert Series * CityFair * Rose Court Fun fact: The rose's different parts (including petals, hips, and oil) have been used in medicine to soothe ailing stomachs, calm anger, and provide a good source of vitamins and minerals. Lily Fest Catawba, SC July The annual Lily Fest, which is held at Landsford Canal State Park, celebrates the peak bloom of the Rocky Shoals Spider Lily. * Flower: Rocky Shoals Spider Lily (Cahaba Lily) * Landsford Canal State Park has the world's * The festival invites largest population of rare Rocky Shoals Spider Lilies. guests to a day of music, activities, drinks, and snacks. Fun fact: The spider lily gets its scientific name (Hymenocallis) from the Greek word "hymen," meaning membrane, and "callos," meaning beauty. This refers to the thin membranes that con- nect the flower's filaments. Brought to you by LAMESARV EXPERIENCE LIFE lamesarv.com Resources: http://www.holland.org/events/tulip-festival/ http://www.tuliptime.com/ http://alloveralbany.com/archive/2011/05/06/20-facts-about-tulips http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=627 http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/top10facts/496750/Poppies-top-10-facts http://www.theflowerfields.com/ http://www.rochesterevents.com/festivals-events/lilac-festival http://www.cityofrochester.gov/article.aspx?id=8589946105 http://www.gardenguides.com/128093-meaning-lilac-flower.html http://www.rosefestival.org/ http://blog.doctoroz.com/oz-experts/herb-of-the-month-rose http://www.appleblossom.org/ http://homeguides.sfgate.com/apple-blossom-flowers-50007.html https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/top10facts/392032/Top-10-facts-about-daffodils https://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/DuchyReview32-41.pdf http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/ http://www.nps.gov/cherry/cherry-trees.htm http://www.insider-journeys.com/blog/japan-cherry-blossom-in-images http://www.exploresouthernhistory.com/okmuskogeeazalea.html http://www.southcarolinaparks.com/things-to-do/wildflowers/lily-fest/default.aspx http://southcarolinaparks.com/products/i0002845 http://www.kentuckyawake.org/Spider_Lily