THOMASVILLE- Some things have changed from the past to today, as everyone knows. But then again, some have not. Mary Phillips from Cairo, Georgia was invited to speak at the John B. Gordon 383 chapter meeting. Her topic was about plants and flowers from the past to today. Phillips has been a member for over 45 years on the Garden Club of Georgia State Board. She is a Master Flower Show Judge and an avid gardener. She did an excellent job explaining similarities and differences in the use of plants and flowers from earlier days of the American Revolution up until the more modern times of today.
Phillips had an interesting poster display with colorful pictures of arrangements in the White House and plants and flowers. She also had on display some live plants, leaves and an old sage broom for sweeping floors and/or yards of long ago.
Did you know that the White House florists keep the Executive Mansion in blooms year-round? Phillips said there is actually a flower shop in the basement of the White House. Plants were “waxed” during the earlier days to help keep them on display longer. In the early 19th century Americans rarely would bring flowers indoors. They believed flowers would use up their oxygen in the home and even cause harmful vapors to breathe.
“This belief faded away by the 1850’s when the niece and surrogate First Lady for President James Buchanan had fresh flowers placed in floral arrangements throughout the White House. It was President Buchanan that ordered the construction of a conservatory on the west side of the White House Grounds giving his niece access to flowers blooming,” stated Mary Phillips.
When President Ulysses S. Grant and First Lady Julia Dent Grant entertained in the White House, impressive floral displays were found in the rooms. Their daughter Nellie married in the White House in 1874.
Phillips said, “According to the Baltimore Sun, the East Room had a large marriage bell hanging on the walls made of “the choicest white flowers.” The bride and groom had their initials using shaped flowered wreaths hanging on the walls, too. There was a bronze cupid covered in rare flowers, and the columns were twined with wreaths.”
The members were told that First Lady Lucy Webb Hayes was the first to hire full-time floral arrangers or “bouquet makers” in the late 1870’s. Their biggest challenge came about in 1886 when President Grover Cleveland married his young bride, Frances Flosom.
Phillips said, “The White House rooms were covered with flowering plants, palms, and ferns. There were some begonia rubra placed on mantel pieces to represent a glowing fire. Vines ran from the hearth to the mantel which included dark pansies with the inscription “June 2, 1886.” The mirrors had red rose garlands hanging down, and the initials “C.F.” were shaped using roses and white moss.”
This Guilded Age era did not last. In 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt oversaw a major White House renovation for the expansion of the White House. The green houses were removed for adding on the West-Wing offices. Subtle floral arrangements were now the new decor.
Mary Phillips discussed the origin of the official flower of the American Legion, the red poppy. It became the official flower on September 27, 1920 to “memorialize the soldiers who fought and died during World War 1.”
Phillips included information concerning the 1960’s floral arrangements in the White House.
She said, “First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy selected natural arrangements with an airy, informal look. She was creative in wanting to use the White House antique urns and bowls for vases. She liked to use the seasonal flowers at the time. When crab apple and cherry trees were in bloom, First Lady Kennedy had branches brought in the White House and placed in arrangements.”
For major affairs the White House florists began to take in account what the First Lady would be wearing, and floral customs of dignitaries that were visiting.
Part of Phillips display included pictures of herbs and plants during the War Between the States era.
She said, “Herbs and plants were planted not only for fragrance or flavor, but for healing illnesses.”
The book Southern Fields and Forests, published in 1863 suggested white oak, tulip poplar, and the devil’s walking stick could be used for antiseptics.
At the end of Mary Phillips’ program she handed out some seeds from her own garden for the John B. Gordon chapter 383 members to take home and plant. She was accompanied at the meeting by her cousin Mary Tomlinson. Sheila Tucker, Historian presented Phillips with a check to the Thomasville Garden Center in her honor. President Mary Margaret Tyson Quiggle presided over the meeting.