Evening star., 1942-09-12
Garden Of Peace
Is Monument in
Flower Form
Exhibit in Argentina
Shoes the Plants
OF Many Nations

The Garden of Peace in the city
of La Plata, Argentina. is truly a
monument in flower form-a monu-
ment dedicated to the spirit of peace
that once prevailed among the ma
tlons of the earth. This unique gar
den-the only one of its kind in the
world-was opened to the public on
November 5, 1886, and has on dis
play the national flowers of 46
countries. DR.. Alberto v. Oitayen,
director of parks in the city of La
Plata, superintended its creation.
Plants from cool northern climes,
flourish alongside their tropic broth
ers in the mild climate and rich
fertile soil of La Plata. Finland is
represented by the lily of the
valley. Panama by the Holy Ghost
or Dove orchid-a pure white flower
which has in its center the image
of a dove. In those cases where a
country did not have an officially
designated national flower, scien-
tific organizations were asked to Sc
lect the plant to be sent the Garden.
Argentina, the host country, is
represented by the red ceiba, often
mentioned in gaucho songs and the
poems of that country In the
United States it is known as the
cocks comb, or the coxcomb ever
green. Brazil chose the ipe, tree
with golden yellow bells Chile Sc
lected the copihue, whose red flow
ers are said to be symbolic of the
Araucanian Indians in their early
struggles for liberty.
Ironically, flowers of France, Ger
many, Great Britain, the United
States, China and Japan are all on
display in the Garden of Peace.
France sent the poppy, daisy and
bluet, signifying the French flag
with its tri-color of red white and
blue. The United States is repre-
sented by the wild rose; China by
the Towering plum tree. Great
Britain by the white rose-her ma
tional flower emblem since the reign
of the Tudors. Germany chose the
kornblume (blue bottle); Japan, the
CIlI
The flowers growing in the Gar
den of Peace are grouped together
according to their home" conti-
nent, those from Asia being placed
in one part of the Garden, those
from Europe in another-and so on.
A metal tag at the base of each
plant gives its name and the name
OF the country it represents.
That 1t was difficult Job to
gather together in one locality,
plants from the four corners of the
earth, goes without saying. DR.
Oitayen enlisted the help of Argen-
tine Ambassadors stationed in for
eign countries; botanical societies
and other scientific organizations
were also contacted. In some in
stances special planes were char
tered to carry the plants to their
new home in Argentina. All the
participating countries seemed will
ing and anxious to make the Garden
OF Peace success-a horticultural
success, at any rate.
At the special ceremonies which
marked the opening of this UNIQUE
dlsplay of Towering plants, DR..
Oltayen expressed the hope that it
would be but the first of many such
gardens to be started in all parts of
the World-gardens that would help
spread the idea of peace and good
| will among nations.
| Within year several other coun-
tries announced plans for similar
gardens Of "peace"-Germany was
one of this group! But Hitler's
ohtzkreig soon showed up the in
sincerity of the German declaration
and made of the others an empty
gesture. r. w.