Interesting Tips and Facts

Flower Care Tips, Flowers of the Month, Flowers of the Zodiac, The Meaning of Roses and Other Flowers, Wedding Anniversary Gifts, Gemstones Of The Month, Funeral Floral Customs Flower Care Tips -When you buy flowers make sure that they are at the optimum condition. Look for flowers where the bud shows some color. -Flowers should be carefully packed when they are taken home, as this prevents damage to flowers or stems. -Place the flowers, still in their wrappings in fresh water to allow them to drink. -Make sure the flowers are put into a clean vase. -The flowers will last longer if you use cut flower food. Make sure you use the correct amount. -Before arranging the flowers in a vase, cut off approximately an inch from each stem – preferably at an angle. -Stems should never be broken off or flattened – not even “woody stems”. Scraping off the bark will also shorten the flower life. -Leaves should never be covered with water as they will decay and this will decrease the longevity of the flowers. -Regularly top up the vase or container with clean water. -At night, flowers prefer to be kept cool and they will benefit from a lower thermostat setting. -Daffodils can be deadly to other flowers because they secrete a poison in the water. After trimming, leave them on their own for a whole day and do not cut again before combining them with other flowers. However, a special cut flower food is available for daffodils and this enables them to be mixed with other cut flowers immediately. -Flowers do not like direct sunlight of draughts. Also keep them away from fruit, as it lets off a gas called ethylene which accelerates the aging process of flowers. Flowers of the Months January -Carnation, Botanical Name: Dianthus,Symbolic Meaning: Capriciousness, Truth, and Constancy February-Violet,Botanical Name: Viola, Symbolic Meaning: Faithfulness and virtue March -Daffodil, Botanical Name: Narcissus/Pseudo-narcissus, Symbolic Meaning: Regard, Desire and Affection April -Sweet Pea, Botanical Name: Lathyrus Odoratus, Symbolic Meaning: I Think of Thee, Thought of Another May -Lily of the Valley, Botanical Name: Convallaria Majalis, Symbolic Meaning: Humility, Purity June -Rose, Botanical Name: Rosa, Symbolic Meaning: Love, I Am Worthy Of You July -Larkspur, Botanical Name: Delphinium Ajacis, Symbolic Meaning: Ardent Attachment, Appreciation, and Lightness August -Gladiolus, Botanical Name: Gladiolus, Symbolic Meaning: Strength September -Aster, Botanical Name: Callistephus Chinensis, Symbolic Meaning: Daintiness, Elegance, Also – Morning Glory, Symbolic Meaning: Life’s Elusive Loveliness October -Calendula, Botanical Name: Calendula (English Marigold), Symbolic Meaning: Grief, Jealousy, Envied Beauty November -Chrysanthemum, Botanical Name: Chrysanthemum Morifolium, Symbolic Meaning: Optimism, cheerfulness December -Narcissus, Botanical Name: Narcissus, Symbolic Meaning: Conceit, Self-Love, and Sense of Self Flowers of the Zodiac Aquarius- January 20 – February 18 Daffodil, Ivy and Primrose Pisces- February 19 – March 20 Freesia, Cineraria and Fern Aries- March 21 – April 20 Tulips, Calceolaria and Monstera Taurus- April 21- may 20 Iris, Hydrangea and Croton Gemini- May21 – June 20 Geranium, Alstromeria and Dracaena Cancer- June 21 – July 20 Gloxinia, Rose and Dieffenbachia Leo- July 21 – August 21 Carnation, Begonia and Peperomia Virgo- Virgo… August 22 – September 22 Gladiolus, Chrysanthemum and Philodendron Livra- September 23 – October 22 Dahlia, Cyclamen and Rhoicissus Scorpio- October 23 – November 21 African Violet, Gerbera and Maranta Sagittarius-November 22 – December 20 Azalea, Anemone and Ficus Capricorn- December 21- January 19 Poinsettia, Chrysanthemum The Meaning of Roses and Other Flowers Roses Red: I love you; the quintessential expression of love and respect. Red & White together: Unity Yellow: Friendship; joy and happiness; decrease of love; jealousy; try to care. Coral: Desire. Pale Peach: Modesty. Lavender: Enchantment. Dark Pink Rose: Thank you. White: Innocence and Purity; I am worthy of you; secrecy. Pink: Perfect happiness; you’re gentle and graceful. Light Pink: Admiration. Orange – Fascination Other Flowers Aster: Elegance. Anemone:Love. Baby’s breath:Devotion and innocence. Calla lily:Magnificent beauty. Carnation:Red: Admiration. Carnation:White: Pure and ardent love. Chrysanthemum, white: Truth. Daffodil:Regard, chivalry. Daisiy:Innocence, gentleness. Delphinium:Big-hearted fun. Forget-Me-Not:True love. Freesia:Thoughtfulness. Larkspur:An open heart. Monkshood:Danger. Orchid:Long life, love and beauty. Pansy:Thoughtful recollection. Primrose:Young love. Ranunculus:Radiant charm. Sunflower:Hautiness, adoration. Sweet pea: Departure, blissful pleasure. Tuberose:Dangerous pleasure. Tulip:You are the perfect lover. Tulip:variegated: Beautiful eyes. Violet:Modesty and simplicity. Zinnia:Thoughts of absent friends. Wedding Anniversary Gift Fresh Flowers are Always the Best Choice for any Anniversary, However we are occasionally asked what else could be purchased for a particular anniversary to accentuate our beautiful fresh floral bouquets. Anniversary Traditional Modern 1st Paper Clocks 2nd Cotton China 3rd Leather Crystal/Glass 4th Fruit/Flowers Appliances 5th Wood Silverware 6th Candy/Iron Wood 7th Wool/Copperr Desk Sets, Linen Chest 8th Bronze/Pottery Linen/Lace 9th Pottery/Willow Leather 10th Tin/Aluminum Damond Jewelry 11th Steel Fashion Jewelry 12th Silk/Linen Pearls 13th Lace Textile/Furs 14th Ivory Gold Jewelry 15th Crystal Watches 20th China Platinum 25th Silver Silver 30th Pearl Pearls 35th Coral Jade 40th Ruby Ruby 45th Sapphire Sapphire 50th Gold Gold 55th Emerald Emerald 60th Diamond Diamond 75th Diamond Diamond Gemstones Of The Month January: Garnet – Constancy; and Truth February: Amethyst – Humility and Sincerity March: Aquamarine – Courage and Energy April: Diamond – Innocence, Success, and Unshakable Faith May: Emerald – Lucky in Love, Tranquility June: Pearl – Beautiful Bride, but signifies tears July: Ruby – Freedom fro Care, Chastity, Glory August: Peridot – Kind to Husband September: Sapphire – chastity and Hope October: Opal – Reflects Every Mood November: Topaz – Cure For Sleeplessness, Fidelity December: Turquoise – Love and Riches Funeral Floral Customs Chinese: Wreaths are placed at the head of a coffin. Do not use red or pink as they signify happiness. Use white, blue, & yellow. No flowers with thorns, no roses. White and yellow mums are most popular. Jewish: Flowers are not part of the Jewish mourning practice. If flowers are sent, share them with the living by sending them to the home, or giving them to senior’s homes, hospitals, or other institutions where they could give some joy to others. Buddhists (Chinese): A wreath of yellow flowers is placed on top of the coffin – pots of ferns and orchids line the sides of the coffin – no red. Buddhists (Japanese): All white or white and yellow flowers – traditionally mums – no flowers with thorns. Fruit baskets are acceptable. Ireland: Lilies and red and white flowers are traditionally used. Spain: Dahlias are popular. Muslim: No flowers. Fruit baskets may be sent to the home. France: Odd numbers of flowers are considered unlucky. Austria, Finland, Germany, Italy, and Spain: Give odd number of flowers. Germany: Carnations and Calla Lilies are considered funeral flowers. Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, and Spain: Chrysanthemums are considered funeral flowers.