After a long and relentless winter in many parts of the country, most folks are ready to celebrate spring! And with Easter right around the corner (April 12) why not welcome the season with a beloved tradition for kids and adults: Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit.
Since 1996, as part of its licensing agreement with ©Frederick Warne & Co., Teleflora has featured a bouquet with this adorable bunny and this year’s arrangement, full of fresh spring flowers, is especially cute. After the holiday, the container makes a perfect cookie jar.
Peter Rabbit’s literary legacy stretches back more than 100 years, to 1902, when Potter published “The Tale of Peter Rabbit.” In 1903, Potter showed that she was a keen merchandiser as well as a gifted artist by making Peter the first patented soft toy; he’s now the oldest licensed character.
She published another 22 small-format books and worked with the UK’s National Trust to preserve the beauty of the Lake District, in Northern England, before her death in 1943. To learn more about her life and her art, visit www.peterrabbit.com.
Teleflora’s bouquet is a great reminder to introduce a child in your life to Potter’s unforgettable series of books with their charming stories and lovely illustrations or to bring back your own fond memories of reading about Peter, his sisters (Flopsy, Mopsy and Cotton-tail), his cousin Benjamin Bunny, Squirrel Nutkin, Tom Kitten, Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle and many more whimsical creatures.
In honor of Peter and his pals, take our trivia quiz on Beatrix Potter and her work.
1. Potter was born in 1866 into an affluent London family and was taught by governesses. She later became a lecturer in art history at Oxford University. True or False.
2. At 15, she kept a diary and wrote entries in a secret code so that she could freely express her criticisms of artists, writers and politicians. Later in life, even she found it hard to understand, but the code was eventually cracked. When did that happen?
A. 1945
B. 1950
C. 1953
D. 1958
3. Potter was engaged to her publisher Norman Warne, but he died before the marriage took place. She was unmarried for several years until she wed solicitor William Heelis. How old was she at that time?
A. 25
B. 37
C. 47
D. 51
4. In “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” Peter disobeys his mother’s warning and eats vegetables from a garden. Name the farmer who planted them.
A. McGregor
B. McDonald
C. MacIntrye
D. McKenzie
5. At the end of the story, what does Peter’s mother give him before bedtime?
A. Bread and jam
B. Chamomile tea
C. Porridge
D. A carrot
6. In the 2006 movie “Miss Potter,” Texan actress Renée Zellweger played the title role. Who played her fiancé Norman Warne?
A. Colin Firth
B. Ewan McGregor
C. Cillian Murphy
D. Ryan Reynolds
ANSWERS
1. False. As a Victorian girl, Potter received no formal education and was discouraged from developing her intellect.
2. D. 1958
3. C. 47
4. A. McGregor
5. B. Chamomile tea
6. B. Ewan McGregor
