University of Wisconsin-Madison pranksters planted 1,008 of the two-legged wonders in front of the dean’s office in 1979, and Massachusetts governor proclaimed them “an essential contribution to American Folk art” in 1987. Even the 2011 Disney film “Gnomeo & Juliet” had a pink flamingo character named Featherstone.
Today the bright pink wonders are an essential contribution to the Elkins’ backyard in Springboro. Two gigantic flamingo floats, and two medium-sized flamingo floats are used in the family’s new pool until they are ‘put to bed’ at night inside the enclosed trampoline. Six more plastic flamingos line the patio, and the small pink bird clips are used poolside.
A tiny pink deckchair sits among two large pink flower pots. Even 19-month-old Maxwell, affectionately called Maxie, has a pink flamingo monokini.
“They’re fun, they’re bright, they’re pink. I guess we’re doing whatever we can to make Ohio seem more tropical,” said Nicole, also mother to CJ, 6, and Kennedy, 4. “We put them in the trampoline at night so they don’t blow away.”
C. J. would be mighty disappointed if that happened. “They’re good. I like riding on the flamingos, and swimming in the pool,” he said.
The pink flamingos match the bright pink Lilly Pulitzer umbrella, and the pink pillows in the two high-backed wicker chairs. The Elkins’s backyard is a party waiting to happen.
“We spend a lot of time out here. Every night and day we’re home. We like to have friends over, and all of our friends have kids. So they have a great time,” said Chad Elkins.
They decided to get their in-ground pool just this past year. The 18-foot-by-36-foot geometric blue lined pool includes a 12-inch-to-16-inch deep sundeck for cooling off in the shallow water. It’s 4½ feet at the deepest end; they have a basketball net and are planning for a volleyball net. It hasn’t always been a fun time, however.
“They started digging in April, and then it rained for two weeks,” said N. Elkins. “Chad has been working hard out here to get the yard finished and put back together.”
Installers had to dig a trench from the neighbor’s yard for the electrical wires, and putting in the huge pool caused a big mess in the yard around it. Part of it had to be reseeded, with new landscaping put in.
Referring to tropical, the family does spend a lot of time vacationing in Florida: Rosemary Beach, Oviedo and Miami. So maybe the pink flamingos remind them of relaxing on those white sand beaches.
“When we’re home, everybody stops along the bike-path to say something about the flamingos,” said Nicole. “When we’re at the community pool people will say something about seeing gigantic flamingos. And we say, ‘That’s us!’ ”
Don Featherstone’s legacy lives on; America’s still rocking the pink flamingos.
About the Author