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Dorothy Copus Brush Whatever happened to the Phlox Festival? John Greenleaf Whittier wrote in one of his
poems, "With the calm patience of the woods I wait for leaf
and blossom when God gives us Spring!" Most of us feel that
way and are ready to welcome the season with a party. The Cumberland County Beauty Association was
active in organizing spring cleanups every year as well as urging
folks to beautify their properties. In the late 1960s, it came
up with another idea and the catchy phrase, "Improve your
lots by planting phlox." The association proposed holding
an annual Phlox Festival. The members were aware that many surrounding
towns were drawing visitors with festivals and events to welcome
spring. It seemed we needed to promote our county and draw visitors
here. As one of their publicity releases said, "Cumberland
County, atop the largest timbered plateau in the United States,
covers over half a million acres." The decision was made to focus on the lovely
early blooming phlox to draw our share of visitors. Miss Anna
Belle was interviewed, and she said, "Our aim is to get
people phlox-minded." Prior to that first year's festival
in May 1968, the public responded by planting phlox by the hundreds
in a variety of colors. As Phlox Festival time approached each
year more of the graceful mounds of phlox were planted. Over the nine-year period the Phlox Festival was held, it grew to be a week filled with activities. Businesses held open houses, schools had poster
contests, a phlox queen was crowned, a parade was held and the
week ended with a gala ball. The visitors did come to "ooh"
and "aah" at the yards filled with the colorful perky
plants. One year the governor and his wife attended the celebration. To long-time residents the Phlox Festival
is a dim memory, but to newcomers the many yards filled with
blooming phlox are a thing of beauty. Their annual appearance
is a tribute to all those citizens who caught the spirit and
planted not only phlox but other flowers and trees. Now, after more than 20 years, a new welcome to spring is being added to the community calendar. Plans are well under way for a four-day Festival of Flowers on April 27-30. It will focus on the native beauty of Fairfield Glade through garden tours, a special tea and a plant sale by the Glade Garden Club. There will be musical events and art exhibits
featuring flowers, both wild and garden varieties. Once again
spring will be celebrated in a special way here on the Cumberland
Plateau. |