The charming and delicate beauty of flowers has fascinated
people of all nations and backgrounds for centuries. Flowers have
been bred and cultivated for their decorative beauty as well as
their ability to heal diseases. Flowers are the subject of poems
and myths, and religious symbols are associated with flowers as
well. Many girls are named after flowers. The main reason for the
popularity of flowers though is their ability to bring good cheer.
For all fellow lovers and admirers of flowers here is some
background information about flowers. This will help give your
flower gift giving and buying a greater context.
Asters
There are over 600 species of asters, the most popular being
the Monte Casino. Ancient societies believed that the odor of its
leaves, when burnt, drove away serpents. While this might not be
as applicable today, perhaps its connotation is still relevant:
Giving asters means, "I am not sure whether you have been
faithful to me". Be careful who you send asters to!
Meanings: charming, patience
Bells of Ireland
Although the name suggests these flowers come from Ireland,
they originated in western Asia. Bells of Ireland have a
spicy/peppery scent and are part of the mint family. They stand
for good luck.
Meanings: good luck, whimsy
Carnations
Turn of the century dandies would not leave the house without a
white or red carnation in the buttonhole of their suit. With the
end of this tradition and the fact that carnations are so easily
cultivated and grown, the flower has lost some of its popularity.
However, carnations are not only beautiful and long lasting
flowers, they also send a message: When you receive a red
carnation bouquet, it means, "My heart aches for you"
and when you receive white carnations the sender is saying:
"I am still available."
Meanings: fascination, devoted Love
Chrysanthemum
Imagine, chrysanthemums have been cultivated in Chinese gardens
for almost 3000 years! The name chrysanthemum comes from the Greek
chrysos (gold) and anthos (flower). Today some of the meanings
associated with this flower are: innocence, cheerfulness and loyal
love.
Meanings: cheerfulness, innocence
Dahlias
The dahlia is the national flower of Mexico and this is also
its birthplace. An old Aztec document states that the Aztecs used
dahlias as a treatment for epilepsy. Only in the 19th century did
the flower come to Europe where it was bred and cultivated into
today's varieties.
Meanings: dignity, elegance
Iris
Did you know that there are so many different varieties of iris
that they can be grown wild year round, in water and on land? Iris
was most significant in history as the emblem of France --
Fleur-de-Lis -- established in the 11th century by the king of
France. Today, it is the state flower of Tennessee and its
meanings are faith, hope and wisdom.
Meanings: faith, hope, wisdom
Lilies
Lilies have been associated with many ancient myths. They are
mentioned in the Old Testament, and in the New Testament, and
symbolize chastity and virtue. Even today, lilies are associated
with purity and faith.
Meanings: purity, faith
Peruvian lilies or alstroemeria are named after the Swedish
botanist Baron Klas von Alstroemer. He brought the flower seeds
back from a trip to South America in the 18th century.
Meanings: friendship, devotion
Calla lilies were first imported from South Africa to America
in the mid-nineteenth century. The waxy white blooms and
spearheaded leaves of the calla lily stand for radiant beauty and
sophistication.
Meanings: sophistication, beauty
Lisianthus
Lisianthus may sound like a Latin name, but it is one of
several common names associated with this plant. It is also
referred to as Prairie Gentian, Prairie Rose or Texas Bluebell.
The flowers existing today are derived from an American wildflower
that is native to prairies ranging from Colorado to Nebraska and
down to Texas.
Meanings: outgoing, thoughts
Orchids
During the 19th Century, orchids were widely collected. With
nearly 25,000 varieties, some orchids are among the most exquisite
and expensive flowers available. In antiquity, orchids were
correlated with love and fertility. It was common knowledge that
they would protect against diseases. Given as a gift they stand
for preciousness and seduction.
Meanings: seduction, preciousness
Snapdragons
Snapdragons are an old decorative flower, widely used by the
Romans. From its origin in southern Spain the cultivated form was
spread throughout the whole Roman Empire. Nowadays remnants of
this original population which all belong to the species
Antirrhinum majus are found among Roman remains like temples in
southern France, Malta, and Italy. The flower, also called
"gracious lady" stands for deception.
Meanings: desire, strength
Roses
With their far-reaching popularity, roses are the queens of
flowers. After buttercup, the roses are the second oldest variety
of flowers on the planet. Biologists can trace roses back some 200
million years! Although there is a huge number of meanings and
symbols associated with roses, the most common of course is love,
which originated in Greek mythology. When Aphrodite cried about
the death of her lover Adonis, she had red "Adonis
Roses" grown with his blood, - thus red roses are the symbol
of never-ending love. Important to mention are the roses' thorns,
of which we all probably have some painful memory. Symbolically,
love can be painful and full of suffering when not treated
carefully.
Red roses: I love you, unconscious beauty
White roses: spiritual love, purity
Yellow roses: joy, gladness
Orange roses: fascinated, enthusiastic
Pink roses: grace, gentility
More color meanings
Tulips
Originally from Persia, tulips were introduced to Western
Europe and the Netherlands in the 17th century. When growers
started to hybridize the flower, they found ways of making it even
more decorative. Hybrids of the flower were a scarcity at the time
and a symbol of high status. Soon tulips became very popular as a
trading product and bulbs were traded at the highest prices. The
months of late 1636 to early 1637 would make history in the
Netherlands as "Tulipmania". A bed of tulips was worth
up to $5,000, the value of a small house in Amsterdam. The bulbs
became currency, and their value was quoted at the stock market.
Meanings: perfect lover, fame
Sunflowers
Sunflowers turn their heads toward the sun and this how they
got their common name. They originated in Central and South
America. Sunflowers are not only pretty to look at but sunflower
seeds are power-packed with healthy fats, protein, fiber,
minerals, and vitamin E - all important to the nutritional quality
of your diet. Wait! That doesn't mean you're supposed to eat the
seeds out of your sunflower bouquet.
Meanings: adoration, sunshine
Josh Grossman is cofounder of online florist Beyond Blossoms www.beyondblossoms.com
. The company ships farm fresh, hand-tied flowers nationwide.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
