May Series Baskets Honored Bonnie Longaberger

     Having honored JW Longaberger with a special basket collection (1983-1993), the Longaberger Company next focused on his wife (and mother of his 12 children) Bonnie Longaberger with the May Series, a special collection of favorite flowers that she selected. Many unique flower-named basket sets were created in the May Series, and the Collectors Club later offered miniature May Series Baskets that were even more fun.  

The 1990 May Series Violet Basket began this collection. Longaberger did not have the colorful monthly feature flyers at that time that became anticipated and expected in later years, and the Violet Basket was only offered on a large postcard pictured to the left. Print fabric Basket Liners were also rare at that time, but the May Series Baskets had special print Liners from the beginning. Many May Series Baskets have purple accent weaves, popular with fans of that color.

Longaberger's May Series Baskets include:

1990    Violet

1991    Rose

1992    Pansy

1993    Lily of the Valley

1994    Lilac

1995    Tulip

1996    Sweet Pea

1997    Petunia

1998    Snapdragon

1999    Daisy

2000    Morning Glory 

2001    Peony

2002    Geranium

2008    Daffodil

When the innovative and striking Snapdragon Basket Set was introduced in 1998, a special print of the May Series Baskets through that point was created by Richard Cowdrey, who created lots of Longaberger art through the years. It was only available to Longaberger hostesses for one month. It does not show all of the collection but illustrates part of them beautifully.

The Daffodil Basket was the fourteenth and last of the May Basket Series and was much-anticipated following a six-year gap. It honored Grandma Bonnie's 100th birthday and had her signature woodburned on the bottom of each of the Daffodil Baskets. 

The May Series Baskets have beautiful fabric Liners, but don't let those limit use of the baskets. The long oval Tulip Basket has red accents and is wonderful for serving at Christmas, Valentines, and patriotic holidays using the Basket and plastic Protector, without the tulip print Liner. I like to fill it with two kinds of snack crackers. The Protector is not divided in the center, but it is easy to fill one end and hold it with your hand as you fill the other end with another kind of cracker. It is also great serving two kinds of  cookies or candy or long items such as breadsticks.

Visit Treasured Basket Traders, my eBay store, to find May Series Baskets and accessories in beautiful condition. You will find many on the secondary market to add to or begin your collection.