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There’s never a good time to receive bad news, but a bouquet of Gerber daisies can certainly soften the blow. While colorful flowers can’t change the story, the message will be brighter when followed with a vase of these sunny blooms. When faced with sad tidings or disappointing diagnoses, it’s important to self-medicate with healthy options like flowers, and sometimes, a casserole just isn’t enough to let someone know your thoughts are with them.
Native to South Africa, these tender perennials have tall, green stems topped with large, bright petals that will remind a person to hold their head high. Warm yellows, flashing fuchsias and deep, heartfelt reds are the most common colors, but anything from white to electric orange are available from florists year-round, who keep these cheery flowers in stock for just such an occasion. Gerber daisies are a popular addition to bouquets since they come in so many sizes and colors and pair well with other timeless choices such as roses or lilies. Their ability to fit a variety of occasions have made them the fifth most popular cut flower in America and this has helped keep their prices very reasonable, with most florist charging only a buck or two a stem. One of the best ways to make an impact with this bloom is to buy 5-7 in different colors to put in a vase or tie with a bright ribbon. It’s hard to feel down with a fist full of daisies.
The flat-topped blooms are large, sometimes more than 4 inches across, but also come as “minis” for smaller arrangements. Like most members of the sunflower family, this daisy has a central “eye” that demonstrates the mathematical sequence of “fibonacci numbers” which represents the golden ratio in nature, reminding us that we are all part of something infinite. Their symmetry and size give them a tidy appearance, but their bright colors are straight out of Dr. Seuss.
With leaves that form a rosette at the base of the plant, these stems are usually cut “clean” with no leaves to hide their graceful, arching stem and look lovely in a vase on their own or paired with bright alstroemeria. While appearing fragile, these tough beauties can handle all the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune and will remind a person that they can, too.
