78 



Flower Days 



Jn order to alTord iiu'iiiljcrs o|" the tijirdcii an O])])ortunity to 

 view its most ])roniineiit floral displays both at a time wlien the^;' 

 appear at their l)est and also under expert guidance, a series of 

 S[)ecial exercises known as " hdower Days " was initiated in 3927. 

 During- the past _\'ear the social nature oL these exercises has becii 

 emphasized, and at the same time specialists in the culture of the 

 various flowers concerned — some from our own stafl", and some 

 from, outside — liave l)een engaged to act as guides. Tin's vear 

 each ceremony has commenced with an informal lea, given hv 

 ofhcers of the staff to tlie members of the Garden and their 

 guests and to the speaker of the day, who has followed with a 

 short address, usually illustrated with lantern slides, about the 

 flower of the day. its history, culture, etc. The hnal event is a 

 visit to the flowers of the day as displayed in the outdoor ]>lanta- 

 tions of the Garden. Under the guidance of the leader there is 

 an informal discussion of the diti'erent varieties, those most suited 

 tor growing in one's own garden, best methods of culture, etc. 

 On each flower day a selection of books and magazine articles 

 bearing on the subject is dis])layed on the tables in the library, 

 for consultation by visitors. 



In this way. Daffodil Day, Rock Garden Day, Iris Day, Inspec- 

 tion of the Rose Garden, Water (iarden Day, and Ghrysan- 

 thenuuu Day were celebrated. l!ut the natiu-e of the exercises 

 on Japanese Ciarden Da}- \\-as somewhat different, the main feature 

 being the performance of the ancient and revered ja])anese tea 

 ceremony by Mrs. Tsuya Okuda, principal of the Okuda Sewing 

 lligh School for Girls. Tokyo, with ]\lr. \). Matzuki, of Golumbia 

 University, as interpreter. This ceremony was ])erforme(l in the 

 Japanese (iarden, in the tea house on the margin of the lake. At 

 Ihe sound of tlie gong, struck by Mrs. Okuda after her ])relim- 

 inary jireparations were completed, the expectant guests, waiting 

 in the " Alachiai '" across the lake, inclined iheir heads politely in 

 the direction of the tea house and proceeded slowlv around the 

 lake in that direction. After the customary greetings the guests 

 seated themselves on the floor wdiile Afrs. Okuda served each in 

 succession a cup of tea In-ewed according to the orthodox Japanese 

 method. I']ach guest turned the cup around three times and then 



