Gladiolus Days is St. Charles' annual festival in honor of the late Carl Fischer, who was the world's leading hybridizer of new and distinctive gladiolus. He received numerous awards for his achievements, including the Society of the American Florists Gold Medal Award. He also received 80 awards for his "All American" varieties as well as the proven old timers. He established Noweta Gardens in 1945 and grew fields of Gladiolus in and around St. Charles for decades.