Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-25
Some Things You Want to Know
Flower Festivals.

In the past few years flower festivals
become Increasingly popular, and
each season finds new cities added to the
list OF those already noted for their efforts
in this direction. II is not strange that
southern California viii its glorious sun
shine and ever poisoning plants should
lead In these festivals. Pasadena, tucked
shugiy away In the foothills, has become
famous for its festivals on New Years
day, at which time It is a Mecca for flu
gitlves from lac Frost in the east and
north.
The Pasadena festival is divided into
three parts, the parade in the early after
noon. the races directly following, and a
grand ball in the evening. The parade Is
often over a mile long. each carriage. au-
tomobile and float being actually buried
under It's load Of flowers OF every kind and
hue. Sixty thousand vlolets and 5000 car
nations have been used in decorating a
single float in one OF these parades,
Hardly less Of IN attraction Is the chariot
race which lie a careful reproduction Of
those held In Rome and Athens.
The Los Angeles festival is held In the
spring and usually lasts about a week.
The name. La Fiesta de las Flores, is
lived up to in every respect. A parade
of which Los Angeles will ever be proud
was that in which President and Mrs.
Mckinley occupied the place of honor.
Their carriage was decorated with 10000
white carnations. and the horses and har-
ness were spotless white. The choosing Of
the queen of the carnival is an important
social event, A feature OF the Los An
geles floral parade which win be sure to
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Chinese dragon always proudly displayed
by numerous sons Of Chinatown. This is
a work Of art, being hand-embroidered and
measuring 500 feet.
The festivals in the Santa Clara valley
deserve a place by themselves. Here the
white blossoms Of the plum trees and the
delicate pink of the peach blooms form a
perfect sea OF beauty for about two weeks
in the spring. The festival commences in
the little foothill village of Saratoga, where
the first wave of bloom begins, and as the
wave sweeps on down the valley, each
little village takes it's turn at celebrating
blossom day. The principal feature is a
drive through the blossom-covered streets
where young girls lombard each passing
vehicle with flowers Decorated carriages
Of all kinds are pressed into service and
ASAtO "a aCRASO w q hlAiAdG civ LiOSN
beautiful spectacle, As it depends upon
the season, the date Of the event fluct-
yates, the earliest 1t has been celebrated
being March Is, and the latest, April 4.
As a sharp contrast to these days of
pleasure in California is the custom car
ried out in Mexico on All Saints day. All
the cemeteries are filled with people who
camp out, covering the graves OF their
800 -1aa v-4AA Rlo~aI Aaarnn. naa Ao--
eating picnic luncheons on the dead ia
bles'' spread for the occasion. The day is
not intended to be one OF pleasure. but it
nevertheless assumes that aspect for those
who see 1t for the first time.
Promptly at noon on the 7th OF last June
President Taft pressed the button which
officially opened the third annual Rose
Festival at Portland, Ore, and the reign
of the Rose King began. The festival
lasted six days and was turned into a time
of general Incorporating. Automobile,
horse and spirit Of the@ Vest parades
Wed with one another in their splendor.
In all the parades the vehicles and floats
were beautifully decorated with blooms,
while Portland further showed its ability
to raise beautiful roses in Il competitive
exhibition which was held in the California
building at the fair grounds. A few days
previous to the opening OF the festival a
bouquet made UP of the choicest roses to
be found in the Rose City" was sent to
Washington to be presented to the presi-
dent by Senators Bourne and Chamber.
lain shortly before he pressed the button.
On account OF Its myriad of wild flowers
Colorado has a continual festival tina is
provided by nature. In Ute Pass, and in
many other regions, great meadows are
covered with brilliant, primitive blossoms.
During the summer the railroads run
weekly wild Flower Excursions for the
benefit of the tourists. Open observation
cars are used and frequent stops are made
in order that the passengers may gather
flowers and take pictures.
AS far distant as is Asbury park from
New Orleans, both as to miles and socia,
customs, the annual festival in the great
resort is a growth of the Mardi Gras idea
Asbury park terminates each season with
a grand carnival, with Queen Tltania and
Prince Charming duly surrounded by theil
court OF beauty. On this occasion the
Baby parade forms the principal feature
and the walks are lined with thousands Of