From the April 4, 1931 issue
By Science News
PASCHAL FLOWERS BLOOM ON PRAIRIES OF THE WEST
Easter-Tide is remembered in America by two names, one of a place, the other of a flower. When the youth-seeking Ponce de Leon sighted the coast of the New World it was on Easter morning, and accordingly he named the place he had found Pascua Florida, or Flowery Easter. We have dropped the noun and kept the adjective, as Florida.
When the French voyageurs pushed out into the western prairie country they found many strange and beautiful flowers, but none lovelier than the blue chalices that opened up in the countless clumps and clusters among the new grass during the fortnight before and after the Paschal feast. So they named them Easter flowers, and the pious early French Pasque has remained to us as a part of the rights of the Louisiana Purchase.