Flowers add beauty to our surroundings. A kitchen table dressed
with a floral arrangement of fresh-cut flowers is inviting and
welcoming to any guest. A vase filled with flowers at your
bedside creates a fresh smelling aroma of spring time. Even
flowers given as a gift bring a smile to the person who is
receiving them.
Magic of Flowers
The act of giving a fresh-cut flower is often associated with
romance and an expression of one's feelings. The magic, if any,
is in the "air". A sweet smelling scent that is pleasing to the
nose and human senses.
Past studies have illustrated that a "scent of a flower" can
affect a human beings emotions. Odors can make us irritable or
happy. Even color plays an important role.
Meaning Behind a Flower
Beyond popular belief, there is no "set" meaning behind a
specific type or color of flower. People today give flowers with
their own personalized touch. However, the Society of American
Florists has compiled a list of a variety of different flowers
and their meaning according to the historical records on-hand.
Here are a few by type:
* Anemone-fragile
* Apple Blossom-promise
* Baby's Breath-festivity
* Begonia-deep thoughts
* Camellia-gracious
* Daisy-innocence
* Forget-Me-Not-remember me forever
* Holly-domestic happiness
* Lilac-first love
* Orchid-delicate beauty
By color:
Rose
* Pink-friendship
* Red-passion
* Red & White-love unity
* Yellow-zealous
Tulip
* Purple-royalty
Fresh Cut Flowers
With an expanding global market and advanced technology, more and
more varieties are available year round. Fresh cut flowers used
alone or mixed with others create a beautiful arrangement. This
section contains a few of the common flowers that can be found at
your local florist.
Rose, a classic favorite and more commonly known as, tea rose,
sweetheart rose or spray rose. Nearly 120 varieties available
- roses span the color spectrum in all shades of reds, pinks,
purples, oranges, corals, peaches and whites. Tea roses open 3 to
4 inches and stems can be 12 to 30 inches in length. While spray
roses have several flowers on one stem.
Depending on the variety and the type of care, roses typically
last 4 to 7 days. Much care should be taken when placing the
stems into a vase. Foliage above the water line should be removed
to reduce the chance of bacteria. Re-cut stems every two to three
days.
Lily-commonly known as-lily, Asiatic lily, and Oriental lily.
Flowers are trumpet-shaped and grow 6-inch in diameter. Stems
have been known to reach 3 feet in length and carry four to eight
blossoms. Colors include: white, yellow, pink, red and orange.
According to the National Animal Poison Control Center, lilies
can cause serious problem for cats. It is recommended that you
keep lilies out of the reach of your pet.
Tulip-known only as-tulip, a single flower with six petals.
Flower variations include lily-flowering types, double flowers,
fringed petals and ruffled parrot varieties. Colors: white,
yellow, pink, peach, orange, red, lavender, purple and bi-colors.
Orchid-common name-orchid, cymbidium, dendrobium, oncidium,
cattleya and phalaenopsis, which grow in a variety of sizes and
shapes. Cymbidiums are the largest. There are over 17,000 species
world wide.
Determining which of the most popular flowers is right for your
significant other, a kitchen display or by your bedside; is a
matter of personal preference.
Wild Flowers
Wild flower gardens are growing in popularity as the world learns
from gardening experts that wild flowers are not merely a weed.
Wildlife like birds and caterpillars are attracted to miniature
countryside wild flower gardens. Truly-there are benefits to
growing a wild flower garden.
Popular wild flowers include: honeysuckle, foxglove, red campion,
lesser celandine, herb Robert and forget-me-not. In some areas of
the world, up rooting wild flowers is illegal. Some think of this
as removing the natural beauty of their countryside.
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