Flower Trucks for Fall
What is it about flowers in automobiles during the season of Fall? There is something so charming about seeing a vintage truck loaded with flowers and other harvest products. A few of them can be found in yards across Southern Virginia, but I don't know the people, so I won't take a photo. Instead, you will have to settle for this illustration of a French first-day cover envelope postmarked April 22, 1978.
The back of the envelope describes the inspiration for this cover. Here is the English transation (compliments of Google Translate):
Every year since its creation in 1958, a campaign has been held to promote the floral displays throughout France. This annual campaign is overseen by the State Secretary for Tourism, which chairs the Board of Directors for the National Committee for the Floral Display of France. The campaign mobilizes numerous local associations grouped under the umbrella of the National Horticultural Society of France. In 1977, the Grand Prize was won by the town of Menotey, in the Jura department, which triumphed over 5,317 other participating towns and villages. Within this local framework, schools and even individuals can participate in the national competition and win prizes. A town or village that wins several years in a row can be officially recognized as a "flowering town" and receive the "Flowering Town" or "Flowering Village" sign, with one, two, three, or four flowers, somewhat like the star rating system for hotels. Currently, 143 towns and villages have this official sign.
This sounds like the "Yard of the Month" programs found across the United States, but I am not aware of a national program like the one in France. Perhaps it is time to consider implementing something like this in our own communities!
