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Flower Care And Symbols

Care tips for the delivered bouquets or floral arrangements 

No matter what flowers or plants you should receive, make sure you cut the wilted and injured leaves and flowers. They release a substance called ethylene that will make your flowers bloom and wilt faster. Ethylene is a gas that acts as a growth hormone and is used as such in the production of flowers, vegetables and green fruits because it speeds up parching and therefore wilting. Also try to keep bouquets and floral arrangements away from places with strong air currents (air conditioning, permanently open windows or doors) and away from direct sunlight. direct sunrays, warm or cold air currents will dehydrate flowers and leaves faster. 

Here's what to know if you want to enjoy as much as you can of the bouquet that you received. Choose a suitable vase for its size. Wash the inside with dishwashing detergent. Fill about two-thirds full with warm water and if you have flower preservative, add it and mix. If not, you can add a half teaspoon of sugar to 0.5 l water. Hold the bouquet just above the conjunction, cut the ties and clean any crushed leaves or sprigs left on the stem so the portion of stems that will stay under water is clean. Take some garden tons or sharp scissors, cut the stems about 2 cm, on the diagonal and place them in water quickly, avoiding prolonged contact with air. Repeat the procedure every 2 days.

If you received a floral arrangement just add water in the bowl or basket in which you received so that vessel is full.

 

Symbolism of flowers

For those of you who enjoy learning about the symbolism of the flowers and their stories, we've chosen a few beautiful legends about the most classical flowers and the meaning of flowers.

The Legends of the Rose

In a Greek legend, the rose was created by Chloris, the Greek goddess of flowers. It was just a lifeless seed of a nymph that Chloris found one day in a clearing in the woods. She asked the help of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, who gave her beauty, Dionysus, the god of wine, added nectar to give her a sweet scent, and the three Graces gave her charm, brightness and joy. Then Zephyr, the West Wind, blew away the clouds so that Apollo, the sun god, could shine and made this flower bloom. And so the Rose was born and was immediately crowned the Queen of Flowers.

In the Roman Empire, the story goes that there was an incredibly beautiful maiden named Rhodanthe. Her beauty drew many zealous suitors who pursued her relentlessly. Exhausted by their pursuit, Rhodanthe was forced to take refuge from her suitors in the temple of her friend Diana. Unfortunately, Diana became jealous. And when the suitors broke down her temple gates to get near their beloved Rhodanthe, she became angry turning Rhodanthe into a rose and her suitors into thorns.

In a Celtic folk legend, a wandering, screaming spirit was silenced by presenting the spirit with a wild rose every new moon.

According to some Biblical legends, the original rose growing in the Garden of Eden was white, but turned red as it blushed with shame upon Adam and Eve's fall from grace.

In German folklore the soul is supposed to take the form of a flower, as a lily or white rose.

To the Arabs, roses signify masculine beauty, and the white rose was often associated with Mohammed.

In Switzerland roses were associated with death, and cemeteries were sometimes called rose gardens. However, the rose also symbolized rebirth and resurrection.

Roses were considered the most sacred flowers in Ancient Egypt and were used as offerings for the Goddess Isis, goddess of motherhood, magic and fertility.

If a maiden had more than one lover, it is believed in one mythology, she should take rose leaves and write the names of her lovers upon them before casting them into the wind. The last leaf to reach the ground would bear the name of the lover whom she should marry.

 

The Legend Of The Lily-Of-The-Valley

The flower is also known as Our Lady's tears, since, according to Christian legend, the lily of the valley came into being from Eve's tears after she was driven with Adam from the Garden of Eden.

According to another legend, lilies of the valley also sprang from the blood of Saint Leonard, who was a brave fighter and a close friend of King Clovis of 6th century France (of the iris legend). Leonard found life at court unappealing and preferred to live in the woods as a recluse among trees and flowers communing with God. The dragon was not happy having to share his woods with St. Leonard, and in a fierce three day battle which ensued, a lily of the valley appeared wherever St. Leonard's bloods that fell. 

The lily-of-the-valley was considered the sign of Christ's second coming, so is often called 'ladder to heaven' of 'Jacob's tears.'

Mary's tears is another name for lily of the valley; legend says that when Mary cried at the cross, her tears turned into this flower. 

In Germany and Scandinavian countries, it was thought to be good luck to go to the woods and pick “Virgin's tears” in the spring.


The Legend Of The Forget-Me-Not

In a German legend, after the earth was created, God went to each plant and animal and gave each a name. As God finished and was getting ready to leave, he heard a little voice at his feet saying “what about me?” He bent down and picked up the little plant whom he had forgotten, and said “Because I forgot once, I shall never forget you again, and that shall be your name.” 

A Christian legend tells of Christ Child that was sitting on Mary's lap one day and said that he wished that future generations could see her eyes. He touched her eyes and then waved his hand over the ground and blue forget-me-nots appeared, hence the name forget-me-not.

In another legend, the little flower cried out, "Forget-me-not!" as Adam and Eve left the Garden of Eden. 

Another story suggests because the leaves taste so bad, once you have eaten them, you will never forget them. 

 

The Legend Of The Daffodil

According to the Greek mythology, Echo was a mountain nymph who fell madly in love with a beautiful young man, Narcissus-- a vain youth who cared for nothing but his own beauty. He spent all his time looking at his own reflection in a pool of water and spurned Echo's love until she finally faded away, leaving nothing but her voice. The gods, angry with Narcissus because of his vanity, changed him into a flower who was destined always to sit by a pool nodding at his own reflection. 
 
Venus, god of beauty, governs all daffodils except the yellow, and that belongs to Mars, god of war.

Narcissus was also sacred to to Persephone, embodiment of the earth's fertility and Queen of the Underworld.

The Meaning of Flowers

Lovers have always given flowers to each other as a token of their devotion, and love. The language and meaning of flowers has evolved through the years. This is a guide to the meaning of the flowers that you can consider when you chose your bouquet.

Alstroemeria- friendship & devotion

 Amaryllis- pride


Aster- patience, talisman of love

Azalea- take care of yourself

Baby's breath- pure heart, constancy

Bachelor's button- hope and devotion

Bee orchid- industry

Begonia- fanciful nature

Bellflower, white- gratitude

Birds of Paradise- joyfulness

Black locust- platonic love

Bluebell- gratitude

Blue periwinkle- friendship

Blue violet- modesty, faithfulness

Buttercup- riches

Calla Lily- magnificent beauty

Camellia- loveliness, excellence, my destiny is in your hands

Campanula- gratitude

Canterbury bells- gratitude

Carnation- pride, beauty, deep love

Carnation, pink- emblem of mother's day, I'll never forget you, woman's love

Carnation, red- admiration

Carnation, white- pure and ardent love, disdain

Chrysanthemum, red- fidelity, love

Chrysanthemum, white- truth

Chrysanthemum, yellow- slighted love

Clover, red- industry

Daffodil- chivalry, regard, devotion, unrequited love

Dahlia- elegance & dignity

Daisy- innocence, youth, gentleness

Dandelion- coquetry

Fern- fascination

Flax- I feel your kindness

Forget-me-not- remembrance, true love

Freesia- innocence

Geranium- gentility

Gerbera Daisy- beauty, thoughts of absent friends

Gladiolus- strength of character

Hibiscus- delicate beauty

Holly- foresight, good wishes

Iris- my compliments

Ivy- friendship, dependence, eternal fidelity, and matrimony, conjugal affection

Jasmine- grace, elegance

Jonquil- affection returned

Larkspur- laughter, ardent attachment, an open heart

Lavender- luck, mistrust

Lilac- first emotions of love, fastidious

Lily, scarlet- high-souled aspirations

Lily, white- purity, majesty

Lily of the valley- return of happiness, purity and humility

Lime blossom- conjugal love

Lisianthus- thoughts, outgoing

Marigold- affection, pain and grief

Mimosa- secret love, sensibility

Mint- suspicion

Orchid- rare beauty

Oxeye Daisy- patience

Pansy- thinking of you, thoughtful recollection

Peach blossom- love's captive

Pear blossom- lasting friendship

Peony- bashfulness, healing

Periwinkle, white- pleasing rememberances

Phlox- sweet dreams

Poppy, red- pleasure

Poppy, white- dreams

Primrose- young love, I can't live without you

Queen Anne's lace- magic, trust, and healing, steadfast love

Ranunculus- I am dazzled by your charm

Rose- A single rose of any color in full bloom means "I love you." Two roses put together to form a single stem means an engagement. Stem leaves are a symbol of hope.

Rose, red- love, true love, passion, desire

Rose, white- purity, humility, secrecy, reverence, i am worthy of you

Rose, red & white- unity

Rose, pink- grace, gentility, perfect happiness

Rose, dark pink- gratitude

Rose, light pink- desire, passion, joy, youth, energy

Rose, yellow- joy, gladness, friendship, platonic love

Rose, orange or coral- desire

Rose, burgandy- beauty

Rose, lavender- love at first sight

Rose, blue- mystery or attaining the impossible

Rose, red/yellow- happiness, excitement

Rose, red/white- unity

Rose, black- death, hatred, farewell, death of old habits, rebirth

Rosebuds- beauty of love and friendship, youth, and hope

Rosebuds, white- the heart that knows no love

Rosemary- remembrance

Sage or Salvia- esteem

Snowdrop- consolation of hope

Star of Bethlehem- reconciliation

Statice- sympathy

Stephanotis- good-luck, happiness in marriage

Sunflower- adoration, pure thoughts

Sweet Pea- delicate, blissful pleasure

Tuberrose- dangerous pleasures

Tulip- declaration of love, passion

Tulip, red- undying love

Tulip, variegated- beautiful eyes

Tulip, yellow- hopeless love

Tulip-tree- fame

Verbena- enchantment, may you get your wish

Violet, blue- faithfulness

Violet, white- modesty and simplicity

Water Lily- purity of heart

Zinnia- thoughts of absent friends