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