A Little Gladioli History

submitted by Sharon Klein
This year’s planting of gladioli is more than 7,000 bulbs in 15 beds along route 22 in Berlin.  The display will be an outstanding explosion of colors in late July/early August.
Now in its fourth year, the Beautification of Berlin Committee has raised funds to recreate in a small, symbolic way the 200 acres of gladioli planted in Berlin in the late 1800s-early 1900s by Arthur Cowee. Berlin and Cowee were renowned throughout the world as the foremost producers of gladioli bulbs and flowers.
In 2008, the Beautification Committee had one bed, on the property of Bank of America in Berlin, which grew to seven beds the following year and three more in 2010 for a total of 10 beds and culminating this year with fifteen beds along Route 22.  The Committee’s goal is to bring a small piece of, in Cowee’s words, “The Glory of the Garden” to Berlin.  Last September, the dug bulbs were given to anyone interested, in the hope that they would be planted around our Town, spreading that glory.
Cowee started with a 40 x 40 plot of gladioli in 1892; by 1905 he had 75 acres of these beautiful flowers and eventually 200 acres were planted. Cowee developed many new varieties over the years, and two were registered in the North American Gladiolus Council, Commercial Growers Division – “Snowbank” which was said, at that time, to be the most beautiful white gladiolus grown, and “Victory” which was a pale yellow. Arthur Cowee shipped his bulbs all over the world and became known as the “Gladiolus King” by florists everywhere.
None of this would be possible without the work of Chairperson Don Calman, Rebekah Hartman, Duane Goodermote, Sharon Klein and Sandi Slattery.  The Committee also thanks all those who have donated funds for the purchase of the bulbs, the property owners who have agreed to allow the planting and a special grant from Senator Roy MacDonald.  Many have made the establishment of a tradition in Berlin possible.