Flora was a minor fertility goddess. She was the patroness of courtesans, as Isis was, which meant calling the virtue of matrons in question. She was the goddess of flowering, especially of grain and the vine. Flora had the power to make the trees blossom and presided over everything that bloomed.

According to the legends, she was introduced to Rome by Titus Tatius. She was honored by every race in Italy. The Sabine people dedicated a month to her corresponding to April in the Roman calendar. Flora had her own priest at Rome. The Floralia were celebrated in her honor; these were marked by games in which courtesans took part.

Ovid suggests that Flora was a Greek Nymph called "Chloris". He relates how "Zephyr", the god of the west wind, fell in love with her and carried her off. He married her and, to show his love, he granted her dominion over the flowers. Honey is said to have been one of her gifts to mankind, as well as the seeds of countless varieties of flowers.

Ovid's version of this legend probably used "Orithyia's" abduction by "Boreas" as the model for the account of Flora's abduction.

According to Ovid's passage, Flora describes her wedding gift from Zephyrus:

"I have a fertile garden in the lands that are my wedding gist, filled with noble flowers by my husband, who said, 'Be ruler, O goddess over flowers.' As soon as the dewy frost is shaken from the leaves... the "Hours" come together clothed in many colors and gather my flowers in lightly woven baskets. Then, come the "Graces", twining flowers into garlands... I was the first to make a flower from the blood of the boy from "Therapnae" [Hyacinthus]... You too, "Narcissus", keep your name in my well-tended garden... And need I tell "Crocus" and "Attis" and "Adonis", the son of "Cynyras", from whose wounds I caused the flowers to spring that honor them?'"

Ovid uses Greek mythology in this passage in order to give substance to the Italian fertility goddess. The Greek figures of Zephyrus (son of Eos and Astraeus and brother of Boreas), the Seasons (in Latin, Horae and they were the goddess of nature) and Charites (Latin, Gratiae or Graces who spread the joy of nature) and the youths who were changed into flowers, give a narrative element to Flora, who otherwise has no myths.

Ovid has created a Roman mythology from the Greek stories. He also attributes the birth of Mars to Flora in the following way:

"Juno, incensed by Minerva's springing spontaneously from Jupiter's head, wished to conceive a child without recourse to any male assistance. Flora gave her a flower which would make a woman pregnant by touching it. Juno then gave birth to Mars without prior sexual relations with Jupiter."

This passage demonstrates the power of fertility from the goddess Flora as well as her relations to spring when the flowers bloom.

All of this information is also posted in Religio Romana under the goddess Flora. I will tr to find more info perhaps on the festival.