Hi, Q:

Thanks for that historical background on the Maypole in American. I don't think you are adding to the confusion at all. Additional information can only help clarify the topic. I definitely see flowers atop the maypoles in your pics and agree that this was a feature of early British and European poles as well. However, from what I remember of my background reading on the topic, these adornments were traditionally of flowers and greenery in general, not limited to roses, and with the rose in particular having no special significance above the other types of flowers used. Indeed, I recall no specific references to "roses" in the texts I have read describing early maypoles.

Cheers, Hester