There seems to be some discrepancy as to when the rhyme was first penned
by farmer and poet Thomas Tusser "Sweet April Showers Do Spring May Flowers." Some accounts say 1500's, others 1600's or 1800's. Whenever it was
written, it has surely stuck and been modified along the way to just "April Showers bring May Flowers."
In searching for vintage children's books about flowers, I was struck by how lovely the antique books were. I thought about young children of long ago looking at these beautifully illustrated books and how they would have informed young minds, fueled their imaginations and provided exposure to fine art.
Flower Fairy by Cicely Mary Barker
image via duermevela
Daffodil Fairy by Cicely Mary Barker
May Day
image via lululetty
Little Flower Folks
image via Homeschool Commons
The Alphabet of Flowers and Fruit, 1856
The Alphabet of Flowers and Fruit, 1856
image via San Francisco Public Library
The Alphabet of Flowers and Fruit,1856
image via Letterology
Chasing the Green Faerie, 1925
Image via Bohemian Wornest
Beautiful Flowers of the Months, 1918
image via Terri
Almanack for 1890, Kate Greenaway
image via Antique Children's Books
Gertie's Sun Flower
image via I am a Child