What specific details in the first paragraph describe the day on which the lottery takes place? Why do you think the story gives such specific details about the setting–the time and place of the story?

The lottery paints a seemingly happy setting in the first paragraph,

The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full-summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green.

We get the sense that this small agricultural town is meeting to celebrate some special event. This setting is a form of plot manipulation that underscores the irony behind the dark reasons for the gathering.