Los Angeles herald., 1907-04-21
USE FLOWERS LAvIsHLY


city for the coming Of the shriners and
La Fiesta, the one most distinctive,
unique and beautiful scheme has been
overlooked. That Is the lavish use Of
flowers.
Los Angeles is pre-eminently the city
Of blossoms. They are glorious here
all the year. They are actually so
common that Angelenos forget all
about them. They grow wild on the
hills; they overrun the hedgerows,
Chamber over the houses and encroach
upon the walks and streets in the res
idence districts. They literally bloom
by the million.
The central feature of La Fiesta will
be the parade Of the flowers, when
vehicles bedecked in them will pass
through the streets, affording a spec
tacle no other city can present. This
In itself is most commendable; the
only pity Is that It can be seen only
once. 1t will confirm to the visitor
our pre-eminence in floral beauty.
But 1t would be so easy to convey
every visitor every day were plans
only matured for it-so easy and so
inexpensive. The flowers are here in
unprecedented abundance; never did a
season show more varieties or those
of more gorgeous hues. Then why not
use them? Why not emphasize the
blossoming beauty of the southland
by spreading them in glorious pro-
fusion throughout every downtown
street? 1t would be so simple; If every
shopkeeper did his part the plan would
be carried out.
True, we are spending much money
for lighting features perhaps wisely
even though such decorations bedim
our regular street illumination, the
finest any city possesses. But light
ing devices and effects are not new;
whatever community chooses may have
them.
No other city can make its streets
lanes of roses and sweet peas and car
nations and pOpples--none on earth.
Los Angeles can--and the world
would gasp in wonder at the audacity
of the plan, the glory of the effect.
Pictures of flower bordered and blos-
som-draped business thoroughfares
would be printed everywhere and Los
Angeles most boasted claim to beauty
would be advertised throughout civil
iZatiOn.
1t wouldn't be hard to carry out
such a decorative scheme even yet.
Suppose, for instance, that simple rus
tic vases are attached to each orna-
mental lighting post, these to be filled
daily with fresh cut flowers and foli-
age.
Suppose the balconies of business
blocks-such as those on the Chamber
of Commerce building-are made hang
ing gardens by means of palms and
ferns and other growing things.
Suppose the merchants put palms in
their doorways and in front of their
places of business and use masses of
cut flowers in their window decora-
tions.
Suppose cafes bank their tables with
them; open air cigar stands and the
like use them literally, even to gar
landing their fronts with them.
Suppose festoons of asparagus and
mustard and pepper are stretched
across the streets on the wires used
to support the special lights. hiding
their black ugliness in glowing green.
Suppose plants were to be placed
above signs and on upper story win
dow stills. and in odd hooks and cor
ners.
Wouldn't the effect be bewilderingly
gorgeous and strikingly unique and
beautiful? Wouldn't it set world
of visitors talking for months to come,
and draw back to this floral paradise
more tourists than all the lights and
bunting and flags will bring in ten
years?
1t is Los Angeles opportunity, this
Fiesta. 1t is our Feast Of the
Flowers" Let US make it so. God
has never sent hitherto so great an
abundance of blossoms, nor made them
so fine. So plentiful are they that
street peddlers can scarcely give them
away. Enough to adorn the business
district till it became one vast garden
could be had almost for the asking.
Certainly volunteers to hang the gar
lands could be enlisted. perhaps among
the women - certainly their clubs
ought to be interested.
Why not take up the subject and
formulate it? There is yet time for
the project if quick work be done.
And think of it's amazing beauty!