Editing Floral clock

{{Short description|Decorative chronometer made of flowers}}
{{distinguish|Linnaeus' flower clock}}
{{Refimprove| date = April 2017}}
[[File:FloralClockEdinburgh2014.jpg|thumb|350px|The Edinburgh Floral Clock]]
A '''floral clock''', or '''flower clock''', is a large decorative [[clock]] with the clock face formed by [[carpet bedding]], usually found in a [[park]] or other public recreation area. Most have the mechanism set in the ground under the flowerbed, which is then planted to visually appear as a clock face with moving hands which may also hold bedding plants.

The first floral clock was the idea of John McHattie, Superintendent of Parks in [[Edinburgh]], [[Scotland]]. It was first planted up in the spring of 1903 in [[Princes Street Gardens#West Princes Street Gardens|West Princes Street Gardens]]. In that year it had only an hour hand but a minute hand was added the following year. A cuckoo which pops out every quarter hour was added in 1952. The clock was soon imitated across the United Kingdom and later throughout the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/news/article/12852/saying-it-with-flowers-historic-floral-clock-s-2020-design-pays-tribute-to-nhs-and-key-workers |title=Saying it with flowers: Historic Floral Clock's 2020 design pays tribute to NHS and key workers |accessdate=2020-09-24 |archive-date=2021-04-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415003945/https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/news/article/12852/saying-it-with-flowers-historic-floral-clock-s-2020-design-pays-tribute-to-nhs-and-key-workers |url-status=live }}</ref>

In Edinburgh, the clock mechanism is set inside the plinth of the statue to [[Allan Ramsay (poet)|Allan Ramsay]] adjacent. The first mechanism using salvaged parts from [[Elie and Earlsferry|Elie]] Parish Church in [[Fife]] was installed by [[James Ritchie & Son]].<ref>Monuments and Statues of Edinburgh, Michael T.R.B. Turnbull (Chambers) p.5</ref> A new mechanism was installed in 1934 and has been electrically operated since 1973. It is still maintained by James Ritchie Clockmakers.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}

The only flower clock with two faces moved by the same system is located in [[Zacatlán, Puebla]], [[Mexico]]. It has two faces, each {{Convert|5|m|spell=in}} in diameter. It was built by [[Relojes Centenario]], a local manufacturer.

== Examples ==

[[Michael Jackson]] had a floral clock at his [[Neverland Ranch]].{{Trivia-inline|date=April 2017}}

Other floral clocks can be seen in the [[International Peace Garden]] on the border between North Dakota and Manitoba, Rockford, Illinois and in [[Floral clock (Frankfort, Kentucky)|Frankfort, Kentucky.]]{{Trivia-inline|date=April 2017}}

On 19 May 2016, Camarillo Plaza in California unveiled a {{Convert|13|ft|adj=on}} in diameter floral clock. The clock was created as a dedication to Mr. David Pick.{{Trivia-inline|date=April 2017}}

==Images==
<gallery>
File:Floral Clock, Water Works Park (NBY 2645).jpg|Floral clock in Water Works Park in [[Detroit]], circa 1900s
File:Цветочные-часы,-Санкт-Петербург.jpg|[[Saint Petersburg]], [[Russia]]
File:Flower Clock in Geneva.jpg|[[Geneva]], [[Switzerland]]
File:20110717 Stadtpark Vienna 2488.jpg|[[Vienna]], [[Austria]]
File:Bürkliplatz (Blumenuhr) 2011-08-01 19-46-38.JPG|[[Zürich]], [[Switzerland]]
File:San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers.jpg|[[San Francisco]], USA
File:Reloj.jpg|[[Zacatlán]], [[Mexico]]
File:World's largest floral clock, Tehran.jpg|[[Tehran]], [[Iran]]
File:Кривой-Рог-украина-часы-цветочные-часы-95804.jpeg|Europe's largest floral clock, [[Kryvyy Rih]], [[Ukraine]]
File:Floral Clock at Queen Victoria Gardens, Melbourne.jpg|[[Melbourne]], [[Australia]]
File:15 23 0952 niagara floral clock.jpg|Niagara Parks Floral Clock (2015)
File:FloralClock ChCh gobeirne.jpg|[[Christchurch]], [[New Zealand]]
File:Floral Clock in Ostend(1).jpg|[[Ostend]], [[Belgium]]
File:Flower Clock, Yangmingshan.jpg|Flower Clock in Yangmingshan, [[Taipei]], [[Taiwan]]
File:Aerial-NeverlandTrainStation.jpg|Floral Clock at [[Neverland Ranch]]'s train station in [[Los Olivos, California]]
File:Floral Clock in Shiraz-Iran-1961-ساعت گل شیراز-۱۳۴۰.jpg|[[Shiraz]], [[Iran]], 1961
File:Floral Clock-Victoria Park-Cobourg-Ontario-20220819.jpg|[[Cobourg]], [[Canada]]
File:Floral Clock-Frankfort-Kentucky State Capitol-Kentucky-USA-20180910.jpg|[[Floral clock (Frankfort, Kentucky)]], USA
File:Temisvar sat.jpg|[[Civic Park, Timișoara]], [[Romania]]
File:Floral Clock, Carlisle Park, Morpeth, United Kingdom.jpg|[[Carlisle Park, Morpeth|Carlisle Park]], [[Morpeth, Northumberland|Morpeth]], [[United Kingdom]]
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
*Brent Elliott, 'Floral Clock', ''Oxford Companion to Gardens'', Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1986
*Clifford-Smith, Silas; 'Floral Clocks', ''Oxford Companion to Australian Gardens'', Oxford University Press, South Melbourne, 2002

==External links==
{{commons category|Flower clocks}}
*[https://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/07/02/us/20090702-NEVERLAND_17.html Michael Jackson's Floral Clock]
*[http://ua-traveling.com/en/article/flower_clock World's Biggest Flower Clock]
*[http://www.edinburghguide.com/floralclock Edinburgh Floral Clock]


{{DEFAULTSORT:Floral Clock}}
[[Category:Clock designs]]
[[Category:Floristry]]