St. Patrick’s Day is next Monday, but who waits till then to start celebrating?
Whether you’re a parade person or prefer processions in a pub, it’s a day to have fun and wear green. (Btw, did you know that New York City, in 1762, held the first official St. Patrick’s Day parade?)
Another way to mark St. Pat’s is to send a festive bouquet. You’ll find a great selection at teleflora.com/category.asp?rcid=92512.
Ireland is jam-packed with gorgeous plants and blooms so I thought it would be fun to prepare a St. Pat’s quiz for the flower lover in you. Good luck!
1. Which county is known as the garden of Ireland?
A. Wicklow
B. Mayo
C. Cork
2. The word “shamrock” is an anglicized version of the Irish word for clover. True or False?
3. Bells of Ireland, part of the mint family, is not an Irish native. Where is this bloom from originally?
A. Southern France
B. Mexico
C. Western Asia
4. The Mount Usher Gardens (along the River Vartry) are designed in the Robinsonian style. What does that mean?
5. Potatoes grow underground, but the plants also produce above-ground flowers. True or False?
6. What is Ireland's most common wild rose?
A. Dog rose
B. Field rose
C. Rambling rose
ANSWERS
1. A. Wicklow. The movies “Braveheart,” “Michael Collins” and “P.S. I Love You!” were filmed there, fyi. Also, check out Wicklow’s summer gardens fest: castlesgardensireland.com/wicklow-gardens.html
2. True.
3. C. Bells are originally from western Asia. Fuchsia, another flower strongly associated with Ireland, hails from Chile.
4. A more natural or wild look for gardens instead of geometric, formal layouts; named after Irish gardener and writer William Robinson (1838-1935).
5. True.
6. A. Dog rose. The rose family includes about 3,000 species.
