Pink Flamingos Have a Geography, Too

Because of the John Waters 1972 film -- and because of my own experience dodging the things in my years as a landscaper -- I always associate plastic pink flamingos with my adopted home city of Baltimore.

But thanks to Atlas Obscura, I have learned that Phoenicopteridae plasticus originated much closer to my other adopted home in Massachusetts. Specifically, it emerged from the mill town of Leominster (pronounced LEMM-inster), and that the story of its invention has roots in the city's history as Comb City, with a pivotal role played by the dancer Irene Castle.

Image: Atlas Obscura

Lagniappe

Readers interested in my writings on the mythical creature known as a free market can view the pink unicorn articles on this blog.