Published: May 13, 2008 08:35 pm         

RANDOM THOUGHTS: It all started with phlox

For the American Indian, the New Year is celebrated in May. For them that is the Planting Moon in May, the time of year when everything turns green. As they say, Jan. 1 everything is dead and cold, but in May the trees bud and grass grows and everything is new.

The Chaubunagungamaugs, an Indian clan in Massachusetts, have a day-long celebration on the second Saturday in May. They share a meal, plant a tree and then form a circle around the fire to chant and dance. Last season’s beans, squash and corn (the three sisters) are thrown into the fire as they ask the Creator to help them have a bountiful harvest. As they return home they take corn seeds to plant in their fields

Nowhere is spring more beautiful than in densely wooded areas as the bare trees sprout new leaves in a variety of greens. Among the giants, smaller trees such as the dogwood, serviceberry, hawthorn, weave accents of white lacy blossoms. The redbud contributes a vibrant touch of color to the scene. All this can be seen as you travel the highway but for those who take time to walk in the forest there is more. There the ground is covered with many different kinds of wildflowers including the native American blue phlox.

Perhaps because so many folks here on the Plateau were familiar with this harbinger of spring, the blue phlox, it came to mind as they considered a plan to lure visitors to Cumberland County. I can only speculate on how phlox was chosen but for nine years Cumberland County was known for its annual Phlox Festival.

During the 1960s there was a group of citizens called the Cumberland County Beautiful Association. Each spring they played an active role in organizing spring clean-ups and in urging citizens to beautify their properties.

Taking the idea a step further the association wanted visitors to come and enjoy this county atop the largest timbered plateau in the United States, covering over half a million acres. Other towns were holding successful celebrations to welcome spring so why not Cumberland County?

To publicize the event, phlox became the choice. “Improve your lots by planting phlox” became the slogan. Miss Anna Belle was interviewed and she said, “Our aim is to get people phlox-minded.”

The campaign worked and there was a frenzy of phlox planting. Soon mounds of white, red and purple phlox appeared in yards as the date for the first annual Phlox Festival grew near. Many residents didn’t stop with phlox as they planted trees and other plants.

A successful first Phlox Festival was held in May 1968. Over the years the celebration grew to be a week long. Businesses had open houses, poster contests were held in schools, a phlox queen was crowned and a big parade was held. On the last evening a gala ball capped off the week.

After nine years the Phlox Festival was renamed the Spring Festival and soon died. What did not die was the number of visitors discovering this lovely county. To many it seemed a perfect place for retirement and the population steadily increased. For several years Crossville was listed in several magazines as a jewel of a retirement community which brought more visitors. Many of those decided they had found the right place to put down new roots.

And to think it all started with a little flower called phlox!