The Annapolis May   Basket     Tradition   By Nadja Maril Photos by Kimi Raspa

Early morning on the first day of May the doorways of downtown Annapolis are adorned with flowers. The flowers are spilling out from baskets in all shapes and sizes, decorated with ribbons they are part of a tradition that dates back to Roman times and a local tradition, spurred on by a contest that dates back to 1956.

Mary Hildabidle joined the Old Towne Garden Club that sponsors the May Basket contest in 1965. “The club was started in 1954,” she says, “And they started planning the May Basket contest the following year.” The city is divided into seven zones and the 25 members of the garden club serve as judges who carefully inspect each entry and award ribbons. The judging takes place between 10:00 a.m. and noon. You can recognize the judges by their spring hats.

“The baskets are supposed to contain local spring flowers,” explains Hildabidle, “I look for nice loose arrangements and a big arrangement if it is a big door.”

The observance of May Day has its roots in the British Isles , the merging of Roman worship of the goddess Flora and the Druids' belief that each plant and flower contained a spirit. May Day observations include feasts, revels, and a dance around the May Pole as well as the gathering of flowers to create May Baskets.

When awarding May Basket ribbons, garden club members, judge at their own discretion, but there are certain characteristics that are prized explains Publicity Chair Alex Sears, “We are looking for people who have done their own baskets rather than hiring a florist. Unless it is a business, the arrangement must be in a basket and no artificial flowers are allowed. Commercial entries may use containers related to their shop or profession. One year we had an arrangement in a parasol.”

There are four basic categories: residential, businesses, special buildings such as schools and churches, and the children's baskets. Residential Winners are awarded blue ribbons; businesses yellow ribbons and all children receive pink ribbons and lollipops.

Current president Abby Hutchinson, grew up in Annapolis and her mother Carol Mitola has been a member of the club since the late 1960s. “

In order to participate in the contest, the basket must be displayed with a name and an address card. Adult winners are invited to the club's annual May Day Tea held at the home of one of the club members.

It is a very special tea because each member creates a floral arrangement for the residence where the tea is being hosted and designs the bouquet to reside in a location they pick in advance. A card gives the name of the member who made the arrangement and describes the flowers used. The club members meet the day before to make the finger sandwiches and everyone brings sweets to serve with the tea and punch. A May Pole is displayed out front of the party location, bedecked with a wreath of flowers on the top, created by two volunteer garden club members. While club members as judges do not formally compete in the May Basket contest they enjoy making baskets to adorn the front of the homes.

Sears three daughters, Isabelle, Daisy, and Georgie ages fourteen, ten, and eight, enjoy making May baskets each year. While Alex Sears likes to use the same basket for her yearly arrangement, her daughters like to try different baskets. “My favorite flowers are Lilacs, “ says Sears, “I like to use them along with dogwood and azaleas can be quite nice, Shrubs add a lot of volume. I usually buy some tulips, and then there are peonies and daisies.”

Hildabidle also likes lilacs and tulips as well as irises. She seconds the notion that azalea makes a good filler.

“The club is small,” explains Hildabidle, “so we can meet in each others homes and we've never changed the rules and bylaws. “ Club members can retire to associate status and there are honorary members as well. Twice club president, and an officer in every category except treasurer, Hildabidle enjoys the monthly meetings, field trips, and gardening projects undertaken by the group but says she's thinking of moving her membership to associate status, as she no longer lives in the historic district of Annapolis. Incoming members must live within the club's geographic boundaries that include the entire Historic District of Annapolis and parts of the Murray Hill Neighborhood (Franklin, Southgate , Murray, Thompson, Taney, Chest on, and Lafayette to Southgate Avenue ). The May Basket Contest is held within these boundaries. But these days May Baskets are not limited to downtown Annapolis . Look for May Basket displays and contests in Eastport, West Annapolis , President's Hill, and communities beyond. May Baskets hang wherever residents want to welcome the arrival of May.

Click here to learn how to make your own May Basket!

—Becki Lee