Historical Society Pansy Sale Begins April 6

Submitted by the Needham Historical Society

The pansies are here! Despite the warm weather, it is not really spring until we have pansies.

Pansies are Needham’s official flower, and April is Pansy Month. The will be selling pansies from April 6-20 at its headquarters at 1147 Central Ave. Pansies are available every day, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.  The price is $3.50 for a six-plant flat. All proceeds benefit the programs and activities of the Needham Historical Society.

The will take place on Saturday, April 14 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Along with the pansies, there will be planting workshops, herbs and perennials, gifts and books and a bake sale. For kids there will be a coloring contest and a scavenger hunt.

Returning this year for the festival will be Mindy Pasco-Anderson, who creates beautiful planters out of pansies, herbs and spring bulbs. New this year, Mary Kreindel of ExSeeds, who sells garden accents, and birdhouses as well unusual house plants, will provide unique ideas for garden design.

Why Pansies? 

Pansies were one of the products grown in Needham for the flower markets in the late 19th century. Needham’s “Pansy King” was a Swiss botanist named Denys Zirngiebel. He grew his prize-winning pansies commercially for decades, and sold his plants and seeds to commercial growers all over the country.  Zirngiebel is also famous as the grandfather of another important Needhamite, the great illustrator N. C. Wyeth. The Wyeth home lay next door to the Zirngiebel home on South Street. Both homes can be seen in Wyeth's work.

For more about pansies and NC Wyeth, visit www.needhamhistory.org.

For more information about Pansy Day, programs or membership in the Needham Historical Society, call Gloria Greis, executive director, at 781-455-8860 or visit www.needhamhistory.org.