FLORAL FESTIVALS.

New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, Volume VII, Issue 2, 1 November 1902, Page 141

FLORAL FESTIVALS.

The mention of the Battle of Flowers, which took place some months ago at Cannes, reminds us how much can be done in our own islands. Indeed, in one of the New Zealand towns a festival was held for two successive years and proved an unqualified success. 1 shall never forget the sight of a dog-cart which was a glowing mass of rosepink ivy geranium, even the spokes of the wheels being robed in this festive decoration. Another, affain, was a dainty gig of marguerite daisies. A donkey " shay " of pansies of all colours, lying embedded in green moss, was a beautiful work of art. Or, again, the canoes, the wheel-barrows, the gocarts, the sleighs, which were draped with flowers of every kind, were like fairy yehicles. Daintilydressed, children and ladies all wore flowers. The trappings of the horses were festooned. Tn New Zealand, it is really so easy to do things like this, and the effect on the tastes of the people must be great. Imagine the air filled with gay colours and the sweet perfume from the Battle of Flowers ! Of course it is somewhat of a sin to thus de-

stroy the flowers, as it is a sin to wantonly waste anything. But, if we can annul this regret of destruction, the sight is a fine one, and a fitting end, perhaps, to the day's reign of the beauties of the garden. Their end has been served, if but

for a day. I am, indeed, glad that one of the Northern cities is about to re-introduce its floral fete.