This Old Paper

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On May 27th, I purchased this Edinburgh Floral Clock postcard at the Hartville Marketplace.  In 1902, John McHattie, Edinburgh Park Superintendent, took notice of a crown design low-growing “carpet bedding” garden layout on display in Princes Street Gardens honoring the coronation of King Edward VII.  Inspired, he – along with jeweler Mr. Mossman – created what is believed to be the world’s oldest floral clock. Installed in the NE corner of West Princes Street Gardens in 1903, thousands of flowers are used each spring to design the floral clock.

Since 1946, the clock has been used in dedication to commemorate or celebrate a different event.  In 1911, though, there was no clock, but a Floral Crown to celebrate the coronation of King George V, in 1936 the floral clock commemorated his Silver Jubilee. Curiously, the Queen Elizabeth II 4d stamp on the back of this postcard is cancelled with the words “King George’s Jubilee Trust”.  In honor of King George’s twenty-five years of service, his eldest son, Edward, The Prince of Wales, proposed the idea of inaugurating a Silver Jubilee Trust, a fund dedicated for the purpose of providing for the welfare of upcoming generations of British youth.

Other floral clocks around the world include the ones found in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Frankfort, Kentucky, Geneva, Switzerland, and Tehran, Iran among others.

Ebay has a variety of floral clock postcards, those featuring the Edinburgh floral clock are few.

Edinburgh rightfully claims the oldest floral clock, but the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair boasted the largest one with a 100-ft diameter dial face.  The Missouri Botanical Garden is celebrating their 150 year anniversary May thru October of this year with the installation of a 20-ft. floral clock.  While viewing their Flickr floral clock construction photo-progress time line, did I notice what must be Dale Chihuly art glass? Yes, after the 2006 Chihuly Exhibition the Chihuly Walla Walla Onions remain floating in the shallow reflecting pool, weather-permitting, in front of the award-winning geodesic dome Climatron conservatory. Happy 150th Anniversary, MoBot!

Printed on the front of my Valentine’s D5229 serrated edge monochrome postcard:

THE FLORAL CLOCK, WEST PRINCES STREET GARDENS, EDINBURGH

Now known as the Parks and Greenspace Service, this Edinburgh floral clock design of 1960 honored The Institute of Park Administration.  How appropriate!

My This Old Paper item might fit neatly into your postcard collection for any number of reasons. Free to a good home.