Check It Out: Floral Clock

Sneak an advance peek of the sesquicentennial floral clock at the Missouri Botanical Garden as it is planted beginning in early April, then view the completed creation from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, May through October. See the Floral Clock also on special anniversary Garden Party Nights, 5 to 9 p.m. on Thursdays, Memorial Day through Labor Day.

I spotted my first floral clock at Harry P. Leu Gardens in Orlando, Florida. At the time, it seemed like the ultimate folly. Floral clocks date back to the early 1900s, when they rose in popularity in England as a form of carpet bedding. The gardening style is achieved by placing small, colorful, low-growing plants in a variety of patterns or designs, similar to the look of Victorian carpet patterns. One of the most well-known floral clocks throughout history was located in St. Louis at the 1904 World’s Fair.