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Victorian era Language of Flowers

The Right Flowers to Welcome a Child

Hello my dear reader, welcome to The Right Flowers where you’ll find a myriad of articles on the topic of, as you may have guessed, flowers. This article outlines the recipe for a bouquet to welcome a child. This applies both to welcome the gift of a newborn baby as well as any sort of welcoming during their younger years.

In the Victorian era, the language of flowers was an essential means of communicating emotions and sentiments. From declarations of love to expressions of condolences, every flower carried a specific message. In this post, I shall elaborate on how a bouquet of flowers could be used to convey a message and provide an example of a bouquet that conveys a specific message.

The message we shall convey through the bouquet is,

“May maternal love protect your early youth in innocence and joy!”

Each flower in the bouquet will represent a specific element of the message. Let us begin with the flower that represents maternal love, the moss. The soft and delicate moss symbolized the tender and nurturing love of a mother, making it the perfect choice for conveying maternal love. Most types of moss create a layer covering whatever they’re hosted by. Common Hair-cap Moss is one of the most common species of moss across the Western hemisphere. The soft ground cover is like a shell to protect the soft muddy domain of insects. This acts as a metaphor for the fierce shroud of love and defense cast upon the child of a protective mother.

Next, the bearded crepis was a popular choice for conveying protection. Its sturdy and protective stem represented strength and shield, making it a fitting symbol of protection.

To represent early youth, we turn to the primrose. The delicate and charming primrose was often associated with the innocence and beauty of childhood, making it an excellent choice for representing early youth. The phrase associated with primroses in the Victorian language of flowers is “Gladness in Youth.”

For innocence, we’ll pick the daisy. The simple yet charming daisy represents purity and innocence, making it a popular choice for conveying this sentiment.

Finally, for joy, we select the wood sorrel. The bright and cheerful wood sorrel represents happiness and joy, making it an ideal choice for representing the joy of youth.

Together, these flowers combine to create a beautiful bouquet that conveys the message, “May maternal love protect your early youth in innocence and joy!”

What a wonderful practice to place such intention into your craft by carefully selecting the flowers and arranging them in a thoughtful and meaningful way. Your intention will surely be carried on through the life of the bouquet. The recipient will be able to feel your intention without having to say a single word.

Bess Hamiti daisy closeup

Daisies Send a Message of Good Cheer

Daisies, both wild and cultivated, have a rich history of folklore and symbolism. The word daisy comes from the Old English “day’s eye” because the petals open at dawn and close at dusk. It began to be used as a woman’s name in the nineteenth century when it was popular to use floral names for babies. Daisy was once a nickname for Marguerite, which is the French name for the flower.

A once-common folk name for daisy was “Measure of Love” after the practice of plucking alternating petals while reciting “he loves me, he loves me not”. Long before that practice became popular, daisies were the sacred flower of the Norse goddess Freya. Freya was the goddess of fertility and love and her association with the daisy led to it being given as a gift to a new mother.

According to a Celtic legend, white daisies are said to represent purity and innocence. These are the most common type of daisy and are frequently seen growing in the wild. In fact, another name for common daisies is the lawn daisy because they can spread so easily. Left undisturbed, they will thrive in a sunny spot. Daisies are so adaptable that they can be found on every continent except Antarctica.

Another sought-after kind of daisy is the Gerbera daisy. They are also known as Transvaal, or Shasta, daisies. Originally found growing in Africa, the Gerbera daisy has become the fifth most popular cut flower in the world. They are available in brilliant shades of yellow, orange, red, or pink. Like other daisies they represent innocence, but thanks to their bright colors they are also symbolic of cheerfulness. Gerbera daisies are a thoughtful gift to bring a smile to someone’s day.

As far back as ancient Egypt, daisies had cultural significance. In that society, the yellow variety of these daisies were said to reflect one’s devotion to the sun god. This may be because these flowers are heliotropic – they turn their “face” to follow the sun throughout the day.

Because daisies are closely related to artichokes, the leaves are edible. High in vitamin C, they make a nutritious addition to a green salad. They are also believed to have medicinal qualities such as slowing bleeding and assisting in digestion. For centuries, daisies were always planted in the gardens of healers.

With 4,000 species of daisies around the world, there is a daisy to suit every flower lover’s tastes. Whether you are giving daisies in a bouquet or as a perennial to plant in the ground, the recipient will surely appreciate your message of good cheer.

Sweeten your mornings with this… THE CHOCOLATE SCENTED DAISY

Yes, Virginia, chocolate comes in flowers, too! The chocolate daisy is rich in both scent and names. Known as the chocolate flower, green-eyed lyre leaf, lyreleaf green eyes or just plain green eyes, the chocolate daisy is part of the genus Berlandiera lyrata and family Asteraceae, which also includes asters and sunflowers.

The chocolate daisy is a perennial (lasts over 2 years) that blooms at night. The golden-yellow flowers open at twilight, which is why their aroma is strongest in the morning. As temperatures rise, the petals temporarily drop and the fragrance recedes. And that is when the green centers or ‘eyes’ stand out. The undersides of the yellow petals are striped red, which adds to the color intrigue of this interesting little plant.

Most fragrant when planted in groups, the chocolate daisy is a favorite of birds and bees. Interestingly enough, the same chocolaty goodness that serves as an attractor also serves as a repellant for deer and rabbits.

Though diminutive in size, chocolate daisies are hearty and hardy, requiring less maintenance than many other plants. Native to the southwestern United States — from Colorado to Texas and into Mexico — they are known to grow along roadsides and in grasslands. This is great news for folks who live in places that feature dry soil on the alkaline side.

Drought tolerant, they do well in soil types that are dry, shallow, or rocky. When planted in full sun, they bloom from spring until frost and can do well in high elevations. When mowed, the plants will grow back vigorously but are not invasive.

In optimal growing conditions, chocolate daisies readily reseed. Seeds can be collected from the plant itself and germinated outdoors from spring to fall. A layer of gravel beneath the plants will help hold fallen seeds in place for new volunteer plants. Excess water will cause the plants to develop floppy stems. And since they do not do well in poor drainage spots, they are especially prone to winter damage.

People often ask if the chocolate daisy tastes as good as it smells. The answer would be yes, but only if you are a fan of unsweetened chocolate! Classified as an herb, it is actually edible and can be used to garnish your salads. .

Chocolate daisy seeds are readily available both online and off. It the soil is right, the plants are easy to cultivate and maintain, and make a great gift for chocolate-loving gardeners. In fact, your thoughtfulness will be remembered on many chocolate-scented mornings to come!

Places in the United States to View Spring Wildflowers

We’re well into spring, which means there are opportunities all around to view beautiful wildflowers. Landscapes from the east to the west are bursting with color as pretty poppies, daisies, and other gorgeous flowers cover miles of ground and bring beauty to those who are privileged to walk or drive by.

Where are the best places to view these stunning wild blooms? We’ll tell you, and we’ll let you know a bit about each region you can visit in hopes that you’ll be tempted to go and view the grandeur for yourself.

Mount Rainier National Park (Washington)

Mount Rainier National Park sits inside Washington state and it’s home to more than 100 varietals of wildflowers. When you visit this beautiful park, you’ll be able to gaze upon subalpine meadows that offer some of the most eye-catching displays of wildflowers in the country. Each meadow in Mount Rainier Nation Park has a unique wildflower collection and natural design. One meadow in particular, called Paradise, is known for displays that wow locals and tourists alike. Wildflowers are in bloom in Mount Rainier National Park from spring until about late August.

Antelope Valley (California)

From the beginning of spring until the end of May, you’ll get a glorious view of wild-blooming poppies in Antelope Valley, in California’s Mohave Desert. This type of environment may seem like a strange one for wildflowers to grow, but every spring they do spring up and they explode into a vast sea of orange. Wild poppies are naturally intensely colored and shaped, but the ones in Antelope Valley are some of the boldest and biggest of all the poppies you’ll find in the U.S.

Crested Butte (Colorado)

You’ll see a mixed blanket of wildflowers blooming, starting in spring, in Crested Butte, Colorado. These blossoms peak in mid July, so make sure you’re there when they’re at their most glorious, if you can. You’ll want to make your way to Colorado’s Gunnison National Forest, in Crested Butte, and once there you’ll quickly see why the area is often referred to as the United States’ wildflower capital. Every summer, color erupts from the soil in this area and it gives a sensational show. The wildflowers you’ll see in Gunnison National Forest include death camas (a member of the lily family), alpine sunflowers (these grow throughout Colorado’s mountain areas), and elephant head (tiny flowers with little pink blooms).

If you have time, consider visiting all of these places for fantastic wildflower viewing this spring. Make a road trip of it or fly from one city to the next, admiring the beauty of the special blooms that you can only experience during spring and part of summer.

Flowers to Cheer You Up

Have you ever felt down, but been drawn to the beauty of flowers so much that your spirit was lifted? We have. It seems that even in the darkest of times, the delicate appearance of a flower or its sweet fragrance has been all that was needed to perk us up.

We can’t count the number of times we’ve felt blue and then walked past a rose only to be lured in for a sniff. Why? Why do flowers call to us, even when we’re dead sure we’ll never see happier times? Perhaps it’s the symbolism of the flower as something that keeps focus on the good, even when chaos surrounds it. Maybe it’s the smell of some, and the way that the fragrance notes affect our brain physically?

Flowers, no matter their environment, do seem to push forward with life energy to offer bold colors, calming aromas, and opportunities to share beauty with others. Flowers persevere, and that is a testament we can stand behind. You can chill their home to the core and they manage to renew in springtime. Burn them and they’ve already worked to burn a memory of beauty into the mind, plus their ground lies fertile for another planting.

Whenever you’re feeling like you could use a little pick-me-up in life, consider turning to the flowers. In particular, choose the following flowers. Buy them freshly cut and put them in a vase, or plant them in a garden in or around your home. Just keep them with you somewhere and look at them, or put your nose to some of them when you want an instant high.

Roses

Who doesn’t walk past a rose and bend over to enjoy the smell of it? We can’t resist. If you’re wondering which roses are the most fragrant, which means they might offer you the most fulfillment from their sweet smell, choose the Honey Perfume rose or the Fragrant Plum rose.

Sunflowers

Sunflowers can instantly put a smile on our faces. Their large face, if you will, seems to challenge us to be just as cheery. When we stare at a sunflower, we often find ourselves engaged in a battle of who can be the happiest, us or the flower.

Gerbera Daisies

Gerbera daisies are a bit like sunflowers for us. They uplift, maybe because their petals open up to the sun asking us to also stay open to life. We especially love pink and white gerbera daisies.

There are many more flowers that cheer us up, such as the common daisy and the dandelion. Common daisies have that same openness to life that we often need in trying times, plus they’re pint-sized, which shows us we need not be big and grand above all to be worthy. Why the dandelion? If you’ve ever blown its wispy, cottony seed heads into the wind and made a wish, you’ll know why.

About the Cheerful Daisy

Do you love daisies? We do. We love them a lot, in fact, and we thought you might too. In fact, we kind of assumed that everyone loves the daisy and the uplifting energy that the flower provides.

When we look at daisies, we can’t help but notice that a huge smile comes across our face. Daisies, in all their forms, bring such happiness and lightness to a day for us. Which are our favorite daisies? It’s hard to narrow a list down to just one. But, we love Gerbera varieties and we go crazy for small common daisies. Both look beautiful in a vase, and they make stunning additions to a garden or a bouquet.

For those of you who adore the daisy as much as we do, here’s a little daisy love. We’ve put together a little list of the most popular types of daisies, in case you need inspiration for flowers to add to your home or give to someone special.

English Daisy

The English daisy looks like a weed to some, maybe because it resembles dandelions (which people also think are weeds, but they’re not). This daisy grows vigorously and can self sow, which means it can take over a garden if you want it to (and even if you don’t). English daisies do well in USDA growing zones 4 through 8, and they thrive in cool summer weather.

Gerbera Daisy

Ahh, one of our favorite daisies and one of our favorite flowers. The Gerbera daisy offers a sunflower shape on a large flower head, like the cheery sunflower. Also like the sunflower, it tends to give one a feeling of happiness and joy immediately upon viewing. The Gerbera daisy comes in pretty colors like pink, yellow, white, orange, and even red. These bold, but gentle, flowers look amazing in cutting gardens and in bridal bouquets.

Oxeye Daisy

Also known as the common daisy, the Oxeye daisy is considered a prized bloom by some and a weed by others. We know its worth, though. This daisy is small, like a button, and it features the same open-petal shape as other daisies. It’s a drought-tolerant flower that looks beautiful in gardens and also in vases when brought into the home.

In addition to these daisies, we love painted daisies and Shasta daisies. Do you have any particular variety of daisy that you adore most? If so, drop us a note in the comments below and let us know what it is!

The Most Popular Flowers to Give

If you’ve ever wanted to give someone flowers, but didn’t know which ones to choose, we just made things easier for you. We’ve put together a list of some of the most popular blooms that people give to those they love, want to thank, or wish to send good thoughts to.

We’ve also noted a bit of information about each one in case you need help determining which flower might be best for your offering.

Whether you’re looking for a flower that expresses love, says Happy Birthday, or offers congratulations, you’ll be able to find something that’s perfect by referring to the guide below.

Roses

Roses have long been the most popular flower for giving. The reason why might lie in the variety of colors, sizes, scents, and shapes that the rose offers. The rose is often considered a symbol of love. But, it can represent friendship, condolences, and many other expressions from one person to another.

Carnations

Carnations were the first flower given for Mother’s Day. Miss Anna Jarvis, the founder of the holiday, chose this blossom to give because it was her mother’s favorite flower. Carnations are commonly referred to by their scientific name, “Dianthus,” which was given to the blossom by the Greek botanist, Theophrastus, and which means “The Flowers of God.”

Gerbera Daisies

The Gerbera daisy is the third most popular flower, after the rose and the carnation. It’s a genus of the family of flowers that includes sunflowers, daisies, and asters. Through hybridization, this flower has become available in a wide variety of colors like orange, bright red, pink, dark yellow, and scarlet.

Other flowers that top the list of most popular blooms to give include anemone, chrysanthemums, tulips, orchids, sunflowers, and peonies. If you’re looking for a floral gift for anyone special to you, you’re sure to please if you choose any one of these.

flowers for thanksgiving

2016 Guide to Thanksgiving Flowers

Thanksgiving is upon us, which means many of you may be wondering which Thanksgiving flowers would be perfect to decorate your Thanksgiving dinner table with. We were contemplating this very thing, so we thought we’d put together a guide to festive flowers for this special holiday.

We’ve highlighted a few of our favorite Thanksgiving flowers, all of which would look stunning at a casual Thanksgiving dinner or a full-blown elaborate affair. The Thanksgiving flowers that we’re suggesting for you will surely look beautiful at your holiday celebration, whether you eat on Thanksgiving-themed paper plates or fine china.

Since we’re guessing you might have quite a bit of planning left to do for your Thanksgiving dinner, let’s get right down to our guide to Thanksgiving flowers for 2016. Enjoy finding out about some of the most popular flowers for the holiday, and enjoy your Thanksgiving!

Yellow Carnations

Yellow carnations are fun and festive. They bring cheer to any gathering, so feel free to bundle some up on their own or combine them with some greenery. We love yellow carnations placed in a low glass vase, either loosely or bound tight to resemble a ball of flowers. We think yellow carnations look fabulous enough to be the stars of the show on Thanksgiving, but if you want to pair them with other flowers, consider red and orange carnations.

Asiatic Lilies

Again, Asiatic lilies are gorgeous for the holidays. They can look spectacular on a low-key or dramatic Thanksgiving table, on their own, paired with other flowers, or mixed with a bit of greenery. We recommend you opt for yellow, orange, or red Asiatic lilies in monochrome or mixed arrangements. Place them in tall vases to show off their beautiful stems. If you want to display Asiatic lilies without greenery, they’ll look incredible, no doubt. But, you can always mix them with millet greens or Irish millet greens to bring a bit more texture to your table.

Orange Daisies

Orange daisies set the tone for warmth and friendship at a Thanksgiving dinner table. An arrangement made with these flowers can be low or tall, and it can include greens or not. Either way it will be just perfect for your Thanksgiving centerpieces. You can use butterscotch daisy pompons or larger gerbera daisies. For a bit of flair, feel free to wrap your Thanksgiving daisy floral arrangements with shimmery orange, pearl, or gold ribbon.

We think that these three flowers are “must includes” on a guide to Thanksgiving floral arrangements. But, we know there are many other exquisite flowers that would make equally wonderful points of interest. As you’re thinking about how to adorn your Thanksgiving table, simply choose flowers that make you feel good about sharing a meal and a home with others. That’s probably the best approach to your celebration.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

yellow flowers

Real Estate Agents and Mortgage Officers: Perfect Flowers to Give as Closing Gifts

If you’re in the real estate or mortgage business, you may be wondering about the perfect closing gift for your client. There are many options, from new appliances to gift certificates for dinner, but a classic and thoughtful gift can be a nice arrangement of flowers.

What better way to say “Congratulations,” “Good Luck,” and “Thank You” than sending flowers that will add to the beauty, and positive energy, of your clients’ new home.

Here are a few of our favorite flowers to give as closing gifts for win-win transactions:

Flowers for Friendship

If you like the thought of your clients, your friends, smiling every time they see your gift, send them sunflowers. Yellow is a traditional color of friendship. And suns, well they’re bright and cheery, which is something most people would want to experience in a new home. You can also send yellow roses. Or, send a bouquet of daisies to show your loyalty.

Flowers for Good Luck

To wish your clients “Good Luck” in their new home, send them a potted jasmine or bells of Ireland. You can also go with a bamboo plant, which is a plant that has a reputation for attracting wealth, health, happiness, and love. If you send bamboo, take note of the number of stalks on the plant. It’s said that the more stalks the plant has, the more fortune and luck will be bestowed.

Flowers for Appreciation

There are several flowers that convey a message of appreciation. These blooms will show your client that you are grateful for the opportunity to work with them and for their trust in your services. Great flowers to offer appreciation include radiant yellow tulips, warm peach roses, and joyful bird of paradise.

There are numerous ways that you can use flowers to convey your message to your client in your closing gift. A couple of other options include sending purple flowers of any kind to say “Congratulations” or giving them Peace lilies to help purify the air in their new home.

6 Flowers for When you Can’t Stand Another Second of Winter

If the thought of having to scrape ice off another windshield while the hair in your nostrils slowly freezes makes you want to push the snooze button until spring, it’s time for a little flower therapy. Winter can be tough. The days are dark and you might not see the sun between punching the clock in the morning and making your way precariously home through icy streets. It’s hard to remember that this too shall melt and your frozen toes will one day walk barefoot on soft, spring grass. When you can’t stand one more day of sub-zero weather, try one of these hothouse flowers that will melt your heart (even if they can’t do much for your heating bill).

SunflowersSunflowers
The name says it all. Bright, round and wonderfully sunny, these summertime flowers can be found at your florist year round and are surprisingly affordable. A few tall stems in a vase on the counter will fuel a week’s worth of smiles and warmth. To choose the freshest sunflowers, give the base of the stem a squeeze- it should feel firm and appear green or white in the center.

Gerber DaisyGerber Daisy
With the shape of a sunflower, but in almost a rainbow of pastel colors, the gerber daisy is the perfect pick to remind you that spring is on the way. The tall, slender stems of this flower are leafless, but look amazing bunched together in a short vase.

TulipTulip
There is no greater harbinger of spring than these colorful, blooming bulbs. Available this time of year from your florist’s cooler, a single tulip in a clear, glass vase will thaw your spirit while the temps are low.

Sweet PeaSweet Peas
These dainty blooms are not afraid of the cold and will be sold in bunches this time of year. During their prime, in the warm months of summer, these small and trailing flowers have a sweet, soft scent that seems to smell strongest at night. Delicate and vine-like, the flowers of the sweet pea come in every color of the rainbow and look great on their own or mixed with other flowers like gerber daisies or hypericum berries.

RosesRose
The iconic symbol of summertime love, the rose is a flower that can’t help but warm the blood. While those available this time of year will have been imported from warmer climates, the blooms will last for a week and are available in a variety of sizes and colors. Try an orange or coral colored one mixed with a few stems of yellow for a hue that helps keep winter’s chill at bay.

OrchidsOrchid
For a thrilling flower that will thaw any room for the last few months of winter, a potted orchid is the perfect choice. Choose a small, blooming plant from your florist and enjoy the flowers until the snow finally melts.

A Touching Bouquet for International Teacher’s Day

Falling on October 5th this year, World Teacher’s Day has been held annually since 1994 to commemorate education professionals around the world for their contribution in preparing future generations for success. Few professions touch as many lives as teaching, though this time of year is often so busy it is hard for many teachers to remember why, exactly, they decided to go into education in the first place. Teaching takes patience, creativity, a thick skin, and a whole lot of love. Return the love this October 5th by planning a very special flower delivery for your child’s homeroom teacher or the educator in your life. By bringing in a flower for each student to walk into the classroom with to hand to the teacher, you will help create a bouquet they will never forget. Here are 3 different stems that are hardy, affordable and easy to create a lovely bouquet with- one flower at a time.

Mini Gerber DaisiesGerber Daisy
Bright, colorful and cheery, these stems are a little sturdier than they look and cost less than a dollar each. In flashy yellows, pinks, reds and oranges, these delightful daisies have a dark or yellow center and pretty petals that radiate outwards. Students will have an easy time with these leafless stems and a good florist can add a clear piece of a straw to reenforce the flower heads so they stay upright for many days after the special delivery. They look great in a vase of water on their own or you can add leatherleaf fern or other greens for your teacher’s desk.

CarnationsCarnation
With new colors like purple and yellow, carnations are a long- lasting and lovely flower that hold up well in tiny hands. Along with the traditional pink, white and red, carnations can also come in stripped and two-toned colors these days as well. Consider handing the students all sorts of colors for a rainbow that is sure to delight. Alternatively, using all white carnations, the teacher can add a bit of food coloring for an impromptu science experiment later on in the week.

ChrysanthemumsMums
With thick, sturdy stems and plenty of colors to choose from, these flowers are also at their prime in the fall. Sold in bunches of 5-10 stems for less than $5, chrysanthemums are extremely economical and will last for more than a week in a vase. Choose several bunches in different colors and pass out to students at the start of the day to hand to teacher when they walk in a room to make a bouquet that will absolutely make their World Teacher’s Day.

3 Ways to Say Happy Armed Forces Day

Men and women of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guards, National Guards and Reserves serve our country every day; on the third Saturday in May, we have our chance to honor them. While these folks in uniform don’t expect to be thanked for their commitment to country in times of peace and times of war, flowers are a great way to let them know that you appreciate their dedication to the cause of peace, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Here are three great plants to help you salute the service men and women in your life.

Carnations
Cultivated for thousands of years, the carnation is rich in symbolism and conveys the message of devotion. While not as well loved as the rose or lily, carnations are strong, sturdy and can handle just about anything, much like our military. With tall stems and large blooms that look great as a boutonniere or in a vase, these flowers are available year round and come in a variety of colors. Try mixing red and white ones with blue delphinium or Siberian iris for a star-spangled look that’s both patriotic and eye-catching. Pair white ones with red roses and a blue ribbon for a ceremonial display or for a table top arrangement to help support our troops.


Alstroemeria

According to the language of flowers, this lovely cut flower in the lily family is symbolic of loyalty. With straight stems that look like they’ve been called to attention and large, clustered flowers that come in a variety of colors, it doesn’t take many to fill a vase and brighten a room. The leaves are delicate and slightly curled, while each stem might hold 4 to 5 individual blooms. The lily-like flowers are often stripped and last for weeks in fresh water. Let your loved one know you are semper fi with alstroemeria.

Roses
By far the most popular cut flower in America, the rose is symbolic of a wide variety of messages and meanings but is most often associated with love in the language of flowers. Love of country, of freedom and of each other can be expressed with these impressive blooms that will let your officer and gentleman know how much you appreciate their dedication and service. Try pairing a red one with white carnations and blue daisies for a look that says, “America, heck yeah!”

Mother’s Day Flower Arrangements

As we’ve previously mentioned, flower arrangements for Mother’s Day are a great way to show Mom how much you appreciate her. We’ve recommended several Mother’s Day flower arrangements, and today we wanted suggest some of our favorite garden variety flowers. While roses, orchids and lilies are always a classic and beautiful option, garden-fresh mixed bouquets offer a stunning option that look lush and bountiful.

Monochromatic Mixed Bouquet

One of our favorite ideas for Mother’s Day flower arrangements is the look of picking one shade, or several shades of the same color, such as this Sweet Devotion bouquet, featuring gorgeous lavender roses and purple stocks in a lavender vase. The diversity of the flowers in a bouquet such as this, mixed with the uniformity of the color, makes for an elegant look that is sure to make Mom smile!

The Basket of Mixed Flowers

If Mom loves the look of farm fresh garden flowers, a basket of mixed flowers is a perfect option! While a traditional vase is a beautiful traditional flower vessel, the basket can offer a lovely rustic or shabby chic look to a mixed bouquet. This basket bouquet is a floral cornucopia of fuchsia stargazer lilies, vibrant blue irises, bright white daisies, eye-popping orange carnations, dazzling purple statices and sunny yellow solidagos. A mixed flower basket for Mother’s Day is a stunning and cheerful way to show Mom just how much you care!

A Mix of Colors, a Mix of Flowers

Of course, sometimes the most beautiful arrangements can be a bouquet that mixes a variety of colors with a variety of flowers. With a beautiful blend of orange roses, red matsumoto asters and pink carnations,
this Mother’s Day flower arrangement
exemplifies the high-end look that a mixed bouquet can have. A perfect option for the mom who loves a good book and a cup of tea, this exquisite style of bouquet is reminiscent of an english garden, and can be ordered in a variety of color palettes to suit Mom’s taste.
The FTD Color Rush Flower Bouquet By Better Homes And Gardens - Vase Included
Mother’s Day is such a special day for Mom, and giving her a bouquet that reflects her personality and beauty is a great way to show her how much you love her!

Delightful Daisies: Many Kinds Mean Many Meanings

common daisyThere are two types of daisy flowers, though you’ll only commonly find one of them in a florist, or in a flower bouquet or arrangement. The daisy you’ll find most often in nature, though rarely in the florist, is the Common Daisy, also known as the Lawn Daisy or sometimes English Daisy. This daisy flower is native to much of Europe, though now widely naturalised to the Americas as well. Your British author remembers as a young child making daisy chains out of the small daisies growing on our lawn, and maybe you remember doing something similar too. The name daisy is thought to be a corruption of “day’s eye“, because the whole daisy head closes up at night, opening again with the morning sun.

safflowerThe Common Daisy is perhaps the archetypal daisy, the one that comes first to mind whenever we think of a daisy flower, but it is only one member of the Asteraceae family (also known also as the aster, daisy, or sunflower family), the second largest family of flowering plants in the plant kingdom, with approximately 23,000 recognized species. In your daily life, you’ll see many members of the aster family, including lettuce, chicory, globe and Jerusalem artichokes, sunflower and safflower, chamomile, calendula, echinacea and tarragon. Dandelions are a member of the aster family too.

Many members of the aster family are grown as ornamental plants and some, for example the sunflower and goldenrod, are grown as “honey plants” for beekeepers, or for those who like to attract bees to their gardens. And many of the aster family – and this is why you’re on this site to begin with, I’m sure – are grown for their beauty as cut flowers. Some examples of the common aster family flowers are below, along with the most common meanings. Generally, daisies mean innocence and purity, loyal or all-conquering love, or “I’ll never tell”. For more detail, click on the name of the flower in the left column to learn more about it and its specific meanings.

Chrysanthemum Cheerfulness, optimism, rest, truth, long life, joy
Gerbera Beauty and innocence
Calendula Joy
Dahlia Dignity and good taste, forever
Zinnia Thoughts of absent friends, lasting friendship and affection, thinking of you

Easter Flowers

One of the best ways to celebrate Easter (for those of you who do) is to present your loved ones with an Easter basket, filled with Easter flowers that will fill the house with their color, shape and fragrance.

white easter lily, easter flower, easter flower meaning, right flower for easter, easter lilyOne of the flowers we most associate with Easter is the Easter lily. This name, though, is given to several flowers, including the daffodil. When someone refers to the Easter lily they most often refer to Lilium longiflorum, a plant originally native to Japan. By the second half of the 19th Century this lily was being widely cultivated in Bermuda, giving rise to an alternate name, the Bermuda lily. At the end of the 19th Century, though (in 1898), a virus swept through Bermuda, decimating the lily stock, and production moved to Japan from then until the beginning of World War 2. With no bulbs or blooms being imported from Japan during the war, production shifted to the US, and in particular Northern California and Southern Oregon, which today produce virtually all the lilies enjoyed in North America, and the vast majority of those sold around the world. Note that like some other lilies, the Easter lily is extremely poisonous to cats.

Our favorite online florist, FlowersFast, offers an Easter Lily in a basket, dressed up in a bow, and with same day delivery in the US and Canada.

The main cultivar produces a number of fragrant, white, trumpet-shaped flowers, thought to symbolize the trumpet of God, calling Jesus to return. In addition, the white color of the blossoms signifies purity, and the renewal that Easter brings. Some also believe that the flower itself represents Christ’s tomb, with the blossoms signifying His life after resurrection.

Around the world different flowers represent Easter. In some Alpine regions, the narcissus (or daffodil) is an Easter flower – as far back as the ancient Greeks the narcissus stood for springtime, rebirth and renewal. In Britain, the daffodil is sometimes called the Lent lily, while in Germany they’re called Easter bells (or Osterglocken.) FlowersFast offer a glorious bouquet of mixed daffodils, bound to brighten any room.

white daffodil, meaning of easter flowers, right flowers for easterAnd in England, Poland, Russia and Finland, the pussy willow is often used in church services on Palm Sunday, as replacements for the palm branches (since palms don’t grow that far North of the equator). Some believe the pussy willow signifies health and youth, relating again to the Easter theme of rebirth and rejuvenation.

white daffodil, meaning of easter flowers, right flowers for easterSo when you put together your arrangements for Easter, and consider the huge range of flowers available to you, know that white flowers (tulips and daisies, as well as lilies and pale daffodils) can all be in the mix. Accent with some deep red, which many believe symbolizes the blood that Christ shed for his followers (tulips, or beautiful blood-red azaleas perhaps), and you’ll have a colorful and meaningful arrangement to share, symbolizing one of the most important Christian occasions.

April Flowers

The birth month flowers for April are the daisy and the sweet pea.

white daisies, right flowers april, april flowersSome consider the common daisy to be a pest, a difficult to control weed that blights their garden. With its white petals around a central yellow disc, the common daisy grows abundantly in its native Europe as well as being widely naturalized in the Americas too. There are, though, more than 23,000 species of daisy. It’s a rare flower, since it has no negative symbolization. Its name is thought to be a version of “day’s eye”, because the whole flower head closes at night and opens again in the morning sun. The 14th Century English poet, Geoffrey Chaucer, called it “eye of the day” and “the empress, and flower of flowers all.”

april flowers, daisy, gerbera daisy, daisiesThe traditional meaning of the daisy is innocence, purity and modesty, so you can feel quite secure that you’re not sending any inappropriate meaning with the gift of daisies. To someone for whom you have a romantic love, daisies mean loyalty and affection. There was a time when to give your love a daisy in public meant that you were passing them a secret, and some still believe the daisy stands for “I will never tell.” One common daisy used in bouquets and arrangements is the Gerbera Daisy, a large and striking flower that comes in a wide variety of color variations.

april sweet pea, april flowers, meaning of flowersThe alternative birth month flower for April is the Sweet Pea. You probably wouldn’t want to send a message symbolizing goodbye, departure, or “thank you for a lovely time”, unless you’d been visiting. Thankfully, the sweet pea also means a blissful pleasure in the language of flowers, so you can with confidence include them in the bouquet for your April-born friend, and it’ll be much appreciated. This enchanting flower is small and delicate, remaining a firm favorite thanks to its heady fragrance.

Gerbera Daisies

The Gerbera Daisy flower, also sometimes known as the Gerber Daisy, is a bright, colorful, happy flower. Gerber Daisies are as equally at home dressed up in a Gerber Daisy wedding bouquet as they are in a whimsical vase at home on a table – in fact the Gerbera Daisy flower is one flower that is sure to make just about anyone smile. Gerber Daisy colors are so vibrant and beautiful that a Gebera Daisy bouquet is right for almost any occasion.

Gerbera Daisies are, in fact, members of the sunflower family. However, whereas the sunflowers one typically thinks of are usually of the yellow, orange or bronze variety, Gerber Daisy colors include not only yellow and orange, but many beautiful shades of pink, red, cream, and white.

gerber-daisy-bouquet Despite its sunny disposition and cheerful nature, the Gerbera Daisy is shrouded in mystery. By all accounts this daisy was named after Traugott Gerber, a German doctor who lived in the early 1700s, but it was actually discovered by either Carolus Linneaus (also known as Carl von Linne) or his patron, Jan Frederik Gronovius, who were contemporaries of Gerber, and to this day, nobody knows why von Linne chose to name this beautiful flower after Gerber.

There are many species of Gerber Daisy, and one of the most popular is the Jamesonii, named after Robert Jameson, a Scotsman who discovered the daisy in Barberton, South Africa, in the mid-1800s. Indeed, this species of Gerbera is often referred to as the Barberton, or ‘Barb’, Daisy.

Daisies generally symbolize purity and innocence, and that is true of Gerber Daisies as well. But Gerber Daisies have the added meaning of cheer – or cheerfulness – as well. This makes Gerber Daisies the perfect flowers to give or send for such occasions as the birth of a baby, a sweet 16 birthday, an engagement, or to send a cheery get well message.

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