Bloomin' Blog

The Symbolic Meaning of Flowers

June 14, 2003 by Kelly Curtis Leave a Comment

Symbolic meanings have been ascribed to flowers since the earliest history of humankind.

It has been said that roses first turned red as they blushed with shame at Adam and Eve’s expulsion from the Garden of Eden.
Laurel wreaths placed around the heads of early Greek Olympians symbolized victory and glory.
According to Christian legend, carnations sprouted from the ground where Mary’s tears fell as she wept at the foot of the cross upon which Jesus died, and thus are associated with a mother’s undying love.
The white lily is strongly linked with Mary throughout art history, symbolizing her virginity, purity, and majesty.
And in Ancient Egypt, Cleopatra scattered roses at Marc Anthony’s feet as a symbol of her love.

Love, in fact, is the dominant message among the symbolic meanings of flowers… as well it might be. Flowers, after all, are the sexual reproductive organs of plants, and as such they are emblematic of all sorts of intimate proceedings. Think about that every time you sniff a rose, that most sensual and voluptuous of flowers.

The Language of Flowers

There was a time in the past when persons of polite and decorous demeanor never spoke publicly of their romantic feelings. Displays of affection or amorous intent where considered vulgar and inappropriate in a society where all sorts of behavior was proscribed by the social mores of the day. Thus, the so-called “Language of Flowers” evolved as a way to communicate ones deepest feelings in a socially acceptable way. Love was never discussed among polite company during the Elizabethan Age in Europe, restricted by etiquette and conformity. So flowers were used to convey feelings.

The Victorian Era

It was during the Victorian Era that simple messages were assigned to individual flowers. Several small books were published in the late 1800’s which detailed the symbolic meanings of flowers, so that a suitor could send an elaborate, often romantic, secret message to his beloved by combining the appropriate flowers into a telling bouquet, and she could respond in kind. The recipients of such flowers could picture an entire love letter among the blossoms.

And so was born the Language of Flowers. Some of the meanings have changed over the years (for example, a yellow rose once meant “jealousy” but today is most often understood to mean “friendship”), and some of the small books actually contradicted each other… a peony symbolizes either “shame” or “happy marriage”. Nonetheless, we’ve assembled a list of the most commonly accepted symbolic meanings of flowers here. Use them at your own risk.

Rose Meanings

Roses in particular carry a veritable lexicon of quaint expressions of emotion. Everything from modesty to jealousy to gratitude to mourning… and of course, every degree of love… may be expressed by the color, size, shape, maturity, or position of the flower (pictures of roses in arrangements). But a perfect red rose always means “I love you”, a message which will never be confused with any other symbolic meaning of a flower. Contact a professional florist to help you expand your flower vocabulary, and send a well-worded message to someone you love, today.

Filed Under: Flower Meanings, Newsletters Tagged With: Flower Meanings, Victorian Style Floral Design

What Kind of Boston Fern Doesn’t Shed?

May 21, 2003 by Jamie Jamison Adams 2 Comments

Can you tell me the name of a fern that similar to the Boston fern but

does not shed like the Boston does? Thank you, Anne

Ferns are touchy subjects at best in any indoor-growing situation; They prefer a humid atmosphere which is much more damp than most household interiors, particularly during our central-heated winters.

Some of the cultivars of the Boston Fern which have more finely-divided fronds, such as “Fluffy Ruffles”, seem to perform better indoors than the species.

Another choice might be the Dallas Fern, which is smaller than the Boston Fern but is similar in form. It has more leathery leaves which are less prone to drying out and shedding.

Meanwhile, ferns growing indoors will benefit from frequent (daily) misting with water. Place them in a cool, bright location out of direct sun. Keep them away from drafts and heating ducts or air vents; A summer outdoors in a shady spot helps a fern which has suffered through a dry winter indoors to recover and produce new growth.

Filed Under: Plant Suggestions Tagged With: Ask The Plant Expert, Flower Shop Network, Plant Suggestions

Caring For Peace Lily

May 15, 2003 by Jamie Jamison Adams

Lou asks:

Hello,

I’m not sure you are the ones I should contact with my questions, but if not – maybe you could inform me who I SHOULD get in touch with. I’m certainly not a whiz on the computer, so I didn’t really know where to go.

I need to know how to care for a Peace Lilly. Once the bloom is gone, do I cut back the leaves, etc? Do I plant it outside and if not, should I put it in a bigger container? I really need help in caring for it from start to finish. Watering, feeding and the questions above.

Thank you for your time.

Brock’s Reply:

We just published a newsletter on the “Care for Peace Lily Plants” back in March. I think it covers most of your questions. You can view the newsletter by clicking on the following link or you can cut and paste it into your address bar.

https://www.flowershopnetwork.com/blog/newsletter-march-2003/

Unless you live in a tropical environment your Peace Lily will not do well out side. The size of pot will really depend on a lot of factors that could only be handled in person, your local florist will be glad to assist you further. If I can help in any other way please let me know.

Filed Under: Peace Lily, Plant Care Questions Tagged With: Ask The Plant Expert, Peace Lily, Plant Care Questions, Spathiphyllum

Caring for Azalea Plants

May 15, 2003 by Kelly Curtis

Azaleas are among the most popular flowering plants. Their abundant, colorful, and long lasting flowers, combined with a compact growth habit and the ability to be planted outdoors, makes them an ideal choice for gift-giving. And with the Mothers Day holiday just passed, thousands of blooming azalea plants were undoubtedly presented to appreciative Moms everywhere. So this month’s newsletter topic is especially timely.

Caring for Indoor Azaleas

Azalea plants received as gifts may be kept indoors for as long as the flowers are colorful. Place the plants in a location which receives bright but indirect sunlight. Keep the soil evenly moist at all times, but never waterlogged. Azalea plants which are grown in pots are frequently in a root-bound condition, and may need to be watered fairly often. Don’t, however, allow the plants to sit in a water-filled saucer, or the roots may be irreversibly damaged. Azaleas benefit from regular misting with water to increase the humidity around them, and to deter spider mites which can sometimes plague them if the atmosphere is too dry.

Planting Azaleas Outdoors

Once the blooms have faded, caring for azalea plants is easiest if they are planted outdoors. Choose a bright location which is out of direct sunlight. Dig a hole at least twice as wide and deep as the plant’s root ball. Add a generous amount of peat moss to the soil, which will increase the organic content and raise the acidity to a level preferred by azaleas. Refill the hole about two-thirds deep with the amended soil, slightly mounding it at the center. Remove the plant from its pot and gently loosen up the root ball, cutting through it with a knife if necessary, so as to encourage new roots to grow into the surrounding earth. Place the plant on top of the mounded soil in the hole and spread the roots around. Fill in around the plant with the remaining soil mixture, tamping it firmly without compacting it, and water generously to help settle the plant. Remember to water the azalea regularly as it becomes established.

Caring for Outdoor Azaleas

Caring for azalea plants isn’t difficult at all if a few simple cultural requirements are met. Azaleas (botanically, Rhododendron species) are members of broad family of acid-loving plants which includes heathers, laurels, and blueberries. These so-called “Ericaceous” plants (after Erica, the genus name for heather) thrive in moist, organic soils with a relatively low pH level of 4.5 to 5.5, meaning that it is fairly acidic. The azalea plants sold by florists are generally evergreen, and can be safely planted outdoors in areas where the average minimum winter temperature doesn’t fall below 0 to -10 degrees F. In colder climates (north of Zone 6), they are best grown in greenhouses.

Pruning Azaleas

Azaleas grow slowly and rarely need pruning. However, to maintain them at a certain size or to increase the density of their growth, azaleas may be pruned immediately after they’ve completed flowering, just as the new growth is being produced. These shrubs bloom each spring on the previous season’s growth, having formed buds by summer’s end, so don’t prune them after early summer lest you sacrifice next year’s flowers.

Fertilizing Azaleas

Properly caring for azalea plants includes regular feeding to promote healthy growth and copious flowers. Choose a fertilizer which has been specially formulated for acid-loving plants, such as camellias, hollies, and rhododendrons, and apply according to the manufacturer’s directions during the growing season. Azaleas can sometimes suffer from a condition known as chlorosis, a mottled yellowing of the leaves with the veins remaining green. This is caused by low acidity or a lack of iron in the soil, and may be remedied by the application of liquified iron.

With just a little tender loving care, your azalea plants will flourish for generations, rewarding you each spring with bouquets of lovely flowers to grace your landscape or garden, and reminding you always of the gifts they represent. Consult your local professional florist and brighten someone’s life with a beautiful blooming azalea.

Filed Under: Plant Care Questions Tagged With: Azalea, Houseplant Care, Houseplants

Picture This… a Cute Bunny Rabbit Garden!

April 14, 2003 by Kelly Curtis Leave a Comment

With Easter fast approaching, everybody knows that Peter Cottontail is on his way. So we’ve designed a clever spring energizer just in time for this season of eggs and excitement… a cute bunny rabbit garden arrangement.

It features an ordinary clay pot as the container and is filled with fresh spring blossoms. The design is a cozy garden for any bunny rabbit, and it makes a wonderful Easter gift for someone special. The faux handle, formed by the stems of pussy willow, acts something like a picture frame around the arrangement which emphasizes the elements within, and resembles the shape of an Easter basket. The fuzzy texture of the catkins themselves repeat the feeling of the bunny rabbit’s fur, lending a sense of unity to the design. Bright seasonal flowers complete the picture.

Bunny & Springtime

Bunnies have a long history of association with springtime. The symbol of the Easter Bunny originated in pre-Christian folklore, and is an echo of more primitive rites of spring. The pagan goddess Oestre was worshiped by the Anglo-Saxons during the spring fertility festival of the same name, and Oestre was represented by her earth figure, the rabbit. Of course, rabbits were the most prolifically fertile animals known, and served appropriately, along with eggs, as symbols of new life during the vernal season. German settlers brought the idea of the Easter Bunny to America in the 1700’s, where it became widely embraced after the Civil War and has now evolved into those cute images of bunny rabbits that are so ubiquitous at this time of year.

Fresh Flowers For Easter

Fresh flowers themselves are energizers for the spirit after the long winter season. There is something special about spring flowers in particular tulips, daffodils, narcissus, and hyacinths which speaks to our souls about the release of pent up energy as they seem to burst so vividly from their apparently lifeless bulbs. The magic of their growth cycles, their colors, their shapes, their fragrances…..all combining together and creating a picture to remind us that life is continually reborn. So we’ve been sure to incorporate some of this magic into our bunny rabbit floral design.

Whether you live in a mansion or a condo, a subdivision or a ranch, a hovel or a hutch, our Easter bunny arrangement is sure to please. So hop to it! Visit your local florist for the components to make it yourself, or have one delivered to some special someone anywhere in the country. And rest assured that Farmer Brown won’t be chasing any rabbits out of this garden!

Filed Under: Newsletters, Seasonal Flowers, Trends Tagged With: Easter, Easter Flowers, Easter Gifts

Caring for Peace Lily Plants

March 15, 2003 by Kelly Curtis 82 Comments

Peace Lily Spathiphyllum Clevelandii

The Peace Lily has become one of the most favored houseplants of our day. Perhaps no other commonly grown interior plant offers so much beauty in return for so little. It readily survives in very low light situations, it produces an abundance of glossy, dark green foliage, and it regularly adorns itself with dramatic white blossoms. With the current surge in popularity of these specimens, caring for peace lily plants is a timely topic.

Peace Lily Background

Peace Lilies, botanically known as Spathiphyllum, are members of the Aroid family, which includes such other familiar flowers and plants as Anthurium, Calla, Philodendron, Dieffenbachia, and Chinese Evergreen. Most of the Aroids are indigenous to the warm and shady forest floors of the tropics. Thus, they are well-adapted to the low light levels and comfortable room temperatures found in most homes.

Peace Lily Lighting

Even among shade-loving Aroids, Peace Lilies are most tolerant of reduced light. They’ll even flourish under the completely artificial flourescent lighting commonly found in offices and commercial spaces, although their preference is for bright, filtered, natural light. This makes caring for Peace Lily plants relatively easy.

Watering A Peace Lily

As far as watering is concerned, Peace Lilies prefer an evenly moist soil. Most people find that they can water their plants once a week, depending of course on light and temperature conditions. At lower light levels or cooler temperatures, any plant will use less water than when it is more actively growing. Use room temperature water. Soil should never be soggy, and plants should never stand in a saucer filled with water. Peace Lilies should also never be allowed to completely dry out, which will result in wilting of the plant, death of the tiny root hairs which conduct water to the plant, and subsequent yellowing or browning of the leaf edges.

Peace Lilies do exhibit a sensitivity to chlorine in the water, so in metropolitan areas where it may be heavily chlorinated, it’s best to allow the water to stand overnight to allow the chlorine to dissipate before watering the plants.

Fertilizing A Peace Lily

Fertilizing is another important factor in caring for Peace Lily plants. The soil in any given container will become depleted of nutrients over time as the plant grows. So it’s a good idea to help replenish it by feeding the plant once a month or so, during the growing season, with any standard house plant fertilizer, such as 20-20-20, at one-quarter the recommended dilution rate. The delicate root hairs as well as the edges of a Peace Lily’s leaves can burn if the fertilizer is too strong.

Repot the plant every year or two in a rich soil consisting of equal parts of loam, peat moss, and sand.

Peace Lilies & Pests

Peace Lilies are rather resistant to most insect pests. An occasional infestation of mealy bugs may show up, and can be easily treated by wiping with rubbing alcohol and spraying with insecticidal soap. Because these plants have broad evergreen leaves, they benefit from having their foliage regularly wiped with a damp sponge to remove dust.

Peace Lilies Provide Clean Air

It’s interesting to note that in caring for Peace Lily plants, we are also helping them to care for us! Spathiphyllums were among the top ten plants in the Clean Air Study conducted by NASA, and were shown to be highly effective at removing formaldehyde, benzine, and carbon monoxide from the air, thus fighting “Sick Building Syndrome”.

Peace Lily Options

Peace Lilies have been extensively hybridized in recent years, so that now we have many more choices among the varieties. “Flower Power” is a new introduction which, as its name suggests, is a prolific bloomer. “Sensation” is a huge plant, potentially becoming 6 feet or more across, with bold, dark green, ribbed foliage; quite effective in interior-scaping. “Domino” is a variegated type, with irregular white splashes mottling its thickened leaves. Check with your local professional florist for these and other varieties, and bring home a breath of fresh air, courtesy of the durable Peace Lily.

Filed Under: Newsletters Tagged With: Peace Lily

Valentine’s Day Romance Ideas

February 10, 2003 by Kelly Curtis Leave a Comment

With Valentine’s Day coming right up on February 14th, romance is in the air. For men, women, and rotund, winged-cherubs alike, it’s the time for expressing our love and affection for those who are most important to us. And naturally enough, sending flowers is one of the best romance ideas of all.

Flowers Make A Lasting Impression

Surveys conducted by the Society of American Florists indicate that 84% of women remember the last time they got flowers. So guys, if you want to make a lasting impression on your romantic partner, flowers are a clear choice. Perhaps surprisingly, the same SAF surveys showed that men place a high value on romance; more than 85% believe that simple romantic gestures such as giving flowers are important to a relationship. Saying “I love you” has become a fundamental sign of masculinity as men are becoming emotional heroes as well as action heroes. A clue to the ladies: your men enjoy receiving flowers too!

Roses Are The Most Romantic Flowers of All

Flowers, of course, are the universal symbol of romance… an idea which has long withstood the test of time. They touch the hearts of all of us, and we all know that roses are the most romantic flowers of all. Your local florist can offer you lots of choices among roses this year; check out the new variety, “Red Intuition”, which features clear red petals flecked with darker red markings….and exotic looking beauty! Or the dramatic “Black Magic”, with luxurious, velvety petals in a dark burgundy hue.

Valentines Day Flowers (That Aren’t Roses)

Beyond the traditional roses, bouquets of fresh spring flowers can present more possibilities for romance ideas. Tulips, freesia, iris, daffodils and hyacinths are abundant at this time of year and can bring a bright burst of color to the hearts of your loved ones. Many of these blossoms are sweetly fragranced as well. Ask your florist to include a rose or two in the arrangement, or send it along with a small box of candy or a cuddly teddy bear to underscore your romantic message.

When To Send Valentines Day Flowers

Consider sending your flowers early in the week especially if they’re being delivered to a place of work so they can be admired and enjoyed for several days more. That will help ensure a timely delivery, avoiding the last-minute crunch of Valentine’s Day itself, and ratcheting up the envy factor among your beloved’s co-workers… public pronouncements of love are always effective.

Go Above & Beyond With Valentines Day Flowers

More romantic floral notions: have flowers waiting on the breakfast table or on the car seat before work; have a centerpiece delivered to a restaurant in advance of a Valentine dinner; hide a ring box or a bracelet within a fresh floral bouquet; or send theater tickets tucked into a basket of blossoms.

Your local florist can help you with other ideas for romance. Don’t wait until the last minute….call or visit soon and let Cupid’s arrows fly.

Filed Under: Flower Suggestions, Gift Ideas, Holiday Info Tagged With: Red Roses, Romance, Rose, Valentines Day, Valentines Day Flowers, Valentines Day Gifts

In Lieu of Flowers?

January 15, 2003 by Kelly Curtis 2 Comments

Though death is the natural consequence of living; it’s never easy to endure the loss of a loved one. Still, one of the most appropriate and appreciated ways to express sympathy and compassion, as well as respect for the deceased, is by sending flowers.

Flowers At A Funeral – An Ancient Tradition

Flowers have a long association with the funerary practices of humans, beginning in pre-history. In fact, the archeological record shows evidence of flowers being buried with the remains of Neanderthal men. Ancient civilizations across Europe and the Middle East also burned, buried or entombed flowers with their dead. With their innate processes of development… from infant seed, to youthful sprout, to fully blossomed adult, to withering petals, and culminating in the ripening pods or fruits which bear within them the promise of life renewed… Flowers are an elegant metaphor for the ongoing cycle of life itself, and a symbol of immortality; something which even cavemen understood.

(History lesson: Read more about the ancient traditions of African funerals)

The Fleeting, Essential Beauty of Sympathy Flowers

Humans and flowers are both products of nature, testaments to the mystery of being. With their essential but fleeting beauty, flowers remind us of our own existence and the temporal quality of our human lives. We cherish them all the more because they are so transient, like the spirits of those who have passed on before us.

Flowers bring comfort to the living as they commemorate the lives of the deceased.
Flowers provide a beautiful and thoughtful distraction from the grief of survivors.
Flowers express gratitude for life and for the privilege of knowing the departed.

Sympathy designs (flowers sent for a funeral) ought to be as special and unique as the life of the person they memorialize. To suggest that flowers are trivial or unimportant to the grieving process is to deny the truth of their message: life always goes on.

In Lieu Of

There has been a trend in recent years to place the words “please omit” or “in lieu of” into an obituary as pertaining to flowers, as if they were worthless or unwanted. The same sentiment would never be expressed with respect to the dead. And while a contribution to charity in the name of the deceased is always a fitting tribute, the value and importance of flowers sent in sympathy can never be understated. Consult your local florist to help you deliver a comforting message of condolence and concern.

Flowers are life exemplified.

Filed Under: Funeral Flowers, Newsletters Tagged With: Funeral Flowers, Sympathy Flowers

Christmas Decorating Ideas

December 15, 2002 by Kelly Curtis Leave a Comment

Tis the season for making merry, and creating a festive holiday environment is a traditional part of preparing for the annual celebration. Your local florist has lots of great Christmas decorating ideas, from nostalgic to contemporary, to help you enhance your surroundings for the holidays.

Christmas Wreaths & Swags

Of course, we’re all familiar with the traditional Christmas wreath, which can be designed in nearly any style or color harmony. But if you’re bored with wreaths, an alternative Christmas decorating idea might be to hang a graceful swag on your front door. One-half of a standard 9-foot length of artificial pine garland can be used as the base for such a swag, with the upper third doubled over to create a broader top. A colorful ribbon intertwined from top to bottom sets the mood and theme of the design, and the addition of pines cones, berries, or permanent fruits or flowers brings it to life. A fluffy bow at the top completes the swag. It’s a beautiful idea for a narrow front door (or pair of doors), under a coach light, between two windows, or indoors on either side of a fireplace.

The remaining half of the artificial garland can be decorated to match the swag, and then used in any of a number of places in the home: across a mantle, along a stair rail, around a lamp post, festooning a doorway, or down the center of a long dining table as a runner. Just for variety, place it in one of these locations this year, and use it in a another the next.

Using Candles For A Candlescape

Another Christmas decorating idea which is gaining favor is the “candlescape“; simply an arrangement of various sizes and shapes of candles, placed into a low tray or shallow container, and accented with evergreens, ribbons, small ornaments and the like. Candlescapes are lovely on a coffee table, credenza, or dining table, and they add the element of sparkling light to the holiday environment. Adding reflective materials to the design helps to enhance the value of the candlelight.

Winter Vs. Christmas

One way to extend the use of your permanent holiday decorations is to ask your florist to create a “winter” design for you rather than a Christmas arrangement. Such a design may be more subtle in its composition rather than bold and colorful, making use of branches, pods, foliages, empty bird nests, and other natural elements which are harmonious with the season. A winter wreath will be appropriate on your front door for several weeks past the time when the Christmas decorations have been taken down. It may even be jazzed up for Christmas with the temporary addition of a luxurious velvet bow or a translucent fabric ribbon woven with metallic threads.

Consult you local florist for more Christmas decorating ideas, and have a happy and peaceful, not to mention well-decorated, holiday season!

Filed Under: Holiday Info, Seasonal Flowers, Seasonal Ideas Tagged With: Christmas Decorations, Christmas Wreaths, Winter Flowers

A Colonial Williamsburg Style Christmas

November 14, 2002 by Kelly Curtis Leave a Comment

It’s not too early to begin thinking about decorating for Christmas, and one of the ever popular decorating themes is known as the Colonial Williamsburg style. Abundant with fruit, vegetables, foliage, herbs and dried flowers, the charm of Williamsburg wreaths, swags, and centerpieces has delighted generations of Americans.

The Truth About the Colonial Williamsburg Style

Ironically, what has come to be known as the Colonial Williamsburg style of holiday decorating never actually existed in colonial times. No one in eighteenth century America would have been caught dead with real fruit tacked to the front door, left to rot or be eaten by squirrels, when food was so scarce. They certainly would not have used such exotic and precious commodities as the pineapples, pomegranates, and citrus fruits we see displayed today.

The True Early Style

In those days, Christmas decorations were more spartan, making use of natural materials at hand, such as magnolia leaves, holly berries, milkweed pods, sumac berries, cotton bolls, rosemary, laurel, boxwood and pine. Common was the practice of “sticking the church” with green boughs on Christmas Eve. Garlands of indigenous evergreens were hung from the church roof, the walls, the pillars and the galleries. Sometimes even the pews and the pulpit were included. Private homes were much more modestly adorned.

Colonial Revival & the Rise of the Colonial Williamsburg Style

The practice of affixing fruits, dried flowers herbs, and other plant life to basic Christmas forms such as wreaths and garlands began in the earlier years of the 20th century, at a time when Christmas was growing in significance and the Colonial Revival style was a leading decorating trend. The holiday fashion appears to have been suggested by the terra cotta carvings of the noted fifteenth century Italian sculptor Luca della Robbia and his heirs, whose family name has become synonymous with fruit and foliage swags. Even then, only wealthier American citizens decorated in such a style.

First Appearance of Colonial Williamsburg Style

Colonial Williamsburg first officially dressed up for Christmas in 1936, and by 1939 the “della Robbia” style wreaths, which were then created by some more of the talented local ladies, had caught on in popularity. Thus, the Williamsburg Christmas look was launched. Annual decorating contests ensued, and the public became so enamored that, in 1969, the Williamsburg “Christmas Decorations Tour” was inaugurated.

Where to get Colonial Williamsburg Style Arrangements Today

Today, your professional florist can create a centerpiece for you in the traditional Williamsburg mode. Familiar elements such as:

Bboxwood
Magnolia leaves
Holly
Apples
Oranges
Pine cones
Roses
Deep-toned chrysanthemums
Pheasant feathers
The requisite pineapple – a long-standing symbol of hospitality

All of the above may be combined to produce the arrangement. Fresh fruit is secured on wood florist’s picks, (tip: piercing the fruit through the blossom end rather than through the skin helps keep it fresh longer). Alternatively, realistic artificial fruit may be used. A Revere-style silver bowl would be a period-appropriate container.

Customarily, the centerpiece would be rounded, compact and symmetrical – almost regimentally so. Quite a departure from today’s relaxed standards, to be sure, but classically beautiful in it’s own right.

Intrigued by this festive theme? Call or visit your local florist soon and have a glance back at history with your own Williamsburg style Christmas centerpiece.

Filed Under: Floral Design, Holiday Info, Trends Tagged With: Colonial Style, Floral Design, Fruit and Flower Arrangements