Wisteria Garden Club marked its 80th year with a springtime nod to ancient tradition, reviving a Maypole celebration that blended history, horticulture and community ritual.

Festivities tied to the spring equinox and summer solstice stretch back thousands of years. Ancient Romans celebrated Floralia, a six-day festival honoring the goddess of flowers and vegetation in early May. In one notable moment in AD 68, Emperor Galba drew attention during the celebration by presenting a tightrope-walking elephant.

Medieval Europe carried those seasonal observances forward with Maypoles and May Queens becoming central features of welcoming warmer weather and nature’s renewal. In Baldwin County, those customs endured well into the 20th Century when schools routinely elected May Day kings and queens and crowds gathered at May Day Park in Daphne to dance around a Maypole and grab brightly colored ribbons.

“The Green Man is also an essential element of these celebrations,” said Wisteria Garden Club member Margaret Lane who participated in Maypole festivities while growing up. “Green Man is all about rejuvenation and renewal. We represented him with the greenery on top of the pole.”

This year’s centerpiece Maypole was handcrafted over three weeks by Lindy Callahan, who used PVC pipe, tent stakes and an umbrella stand to build the structure. Ribbons were arranged in a spring palette with lavender streamers chosen to reflect the Wisteria Garden Club’s signature color. Lavender also appeared in the aprons worn by the Hostess Committee, chaired by Ann Claunch.

Beyond the seasonal symbolism, the gathering marked a period of transition for the organization. Kathy Baugh was installed as the club’s new president and three new members were welcomed during the celebration. The event was held at the Fairhope home of Sharon Dearing.