On Wed, 28 Jan 2004 07:28:39 -0800, "Roberta L. Mueller"
wrote:

I just saw the great new movie "Cold Mountain." There is a scene of an
Easter picnic and on the table is a big bouquet of pink and white COSMOS!
Any gardener knows they don't bloom until late summer, even in North
Carolina (I'm sure?). Also the tree above looks kind-of too leafed out for
Easter. (It didn't ruin the fantastic movie for me though

Well, Easter is a movable feast. The dates for 1860 through 1865 run
from late March to mid-late April. I don't know what year the movie is
supposed to be set in. Last frost date varies considerably in NC, from
late Feb in the coastal lowlands to June in the mountains. Don't know
where the movie/book was set, either. Cosmos are quick-growing and
here in zone 7b-8, we can easily have 2 crops of plants and flowers in
a single growing season. That is, seeds from the first flowers can be
used to grow (and see flower) a 2nd crop. Depending on when and where
'Cold Mountain' is, it *is* conceivable they could have had Cosmos for
Easter. 'Though not likely. :-)