Flower History

One late afternoon, when my friend and I were chatting at Starbucks, she brought up the topic of marriage and wedding. She expressed her deep desire to get married in a beautiful garden with her prince charming. She also explained in detail all her wedding plans -- from flowers up to the reception. She said that she wants to use tulips as her flower for the big day. This is no surprise for me since I know that she loves tulips ever since we were kids. Between sips of capuccino and bites of oreo cookie cake, my friend imagines her wedding day. To remove her from dreamland, I decided to share with her the history of tulips.

I told my friend that originally tulips are from Holland and not from Canada. It was only after World War II that tulips reached the soil of the Canadians. I've read from the books that I used that tulips came to Canada due to Hitler and the Nazis. In 1940, Hitler suddenly attacked Holland, forcing Queen Wilhelmina and her family to escape from London. London at that time was not safe at all since Hitler was attacking the city. Queen Wilhelmina then decided to let her daughter, Princess Juliana to flee to Canada for help. Princess Juliana then went to Canada and the Canadian soldiers helped defeat Hitler's troops. As a sign of friendship and gratitude, the Queen sent 100,000 tulips in Canada. This is how tulips came to Canada from Holland.

As remembrance and symbol of friendship between Holland and Canada, the Canadians celebrate the The Canadian Tulip Festival in Ottawa every year. My friend and I always dream of going to this festival because it showcases the colorful and beautiful hues of tulips. I discovered from the internet that Ottawa is known as the capital city of Tulips in North America. This is due to the 100,000 tulips that Queen Wilhelmina and her daughter, Princess Juliana gave the Canadians. The first ever Canadian Tulip Festival was held in 1953, a few years after World War II. Today, Canadians continue to commemorate the special friendship by holding the tulip festival every year.

Do you like yellow color to dominate your garden? If the answer is yes, then I will recommend you to grow Cootamundra Wattle (Acacia baileyana). This wattle, which belongs to family Fabaceae, is a native to New South Wales, in Australia. This is an evergreen tree which can reach up to the 30 feet or 10 meters. This tree was one of the 1000 Acacia species that can be found in Australia. In Victoria, Wattle is considered as a weed because outcompeting the local Victorian species. This plant has flowers that are usually scented and golden-yellow. Its foliage varies in shapes and sizes and its small flowers are arranged in spherical to cylindrical inflorescences with only the stamens prominent. Accordingly, these plants have been extensively planted in New Zealand territory. Many citizens of this country regarded this species as one of the common plants found in their home landscape.

Like red, yellow is a warm color that denotes opposite meanings. One can see it that implies happiness and joy, however there are also people who believe that this color signifies cowardice and deceit. However, we should always view life in a positive way. So forget about the negative meaning of yellow and start planting Cootamundra Wattle to make your environment cheerful and joyful.

If there is something very delicate, beautiful, and has many meanings, flowers are usually the first thing that will cross our mind. With its fascinating forms, colors, scents, and historical meanings, flowers are creations are surely considered to be a creation of beauty and charm. Among that are widely known and adored are the lilies and the orchids.

Lilies are said to be associated with old myths mentioned in the bible. These delicate flowers symbolize virtue and purity. These days, lilies are still akin to religious beliefs and cleanness. Such flowers are also a symbol of trust and affection. Moreover, Calla lilies, which are from South Africa, are the icons for elegance and loveliness.

On the other hand, Orchids were given refinement in the 19th century. With more than 20,000 varieties accumulated worldwide, Orchids are considered to be among the most rare and delicate (Not to mention that they are also expensive) flowers. Such flowers are usually interrelated with reproduction, love and affection. It was also known that Orchids are among the flowers that can be used as medicine. Furthermore, when Orchids are handed over as gifts, it usually stands for allure and captivation.

Hence, flowers such as lilies and orchids contain distinct emblems that are very meaningful and touching if we share them to others.

There is a flower for every occasion. You can give flowers as birthday gift. Flowers are used to adorn churches during wedding ceremonies. Flowers are also present during Christening. Flowers are also present in sad occasions such as funerals. Whatever is the occasion, flowers have the ability to stimulate positive feelings.

Hence, it is not surprising why flowers are the traditional gift during first dates. Flowers are also used for religious purposes. Flowers usually adorn the celebration of annual religious festivals.

The lily flower is the traditional flower of Easter. White lily symbolizes purity. On the other hand, a single flower that blooms from the bulb symbolizes the resurrection of Jesus Christ after his suffering on the cross. However, the use of the lily as the symbol of Easter actually has a pagan origin. "Easter" itself is rooted from name of an Anglo-Saxon goddess, Eastre. This goddess is also represented by the lily. She is believed to be the mother of all Saxons in North Europe. The celebration of Easter coincides with the blossoming of lilies during spring. This represents rebirth from a period of lifelessness. Eastre was the goddess of spring.

Civilization history is marked by the rise and fall of empires, revolutions, famine, wars, and catastrophic changes. However, history is not just about violence or suffering. History also chronicles the finer and gentle aspects of human activities.

When the name of any ancient Roman city is mentioned, we immediately imagine gladiators or centurions. We seldom picture Rome as decorated by exquisite flowers and surrounded by gardens. But one flower has such a noble history: gladiolus flower.

The name of this flower was derived from the Latin word "gladius," which means sword. The name was based on the shape of its leaves. This flower is associated with the Roman gladiators. Gladiolus is also associated with royalty. The Merovingian monarchs, who founded the French monarchy, introduced gladiolus as the royal emblem of France. The gladiolus flower may have war-like implications, but this is also a romantic flower. Some people even thought that the roots of the plant can be used as aphrodisiac. Giving someone a gladiolus implies that he or she has pierced your heart. It expresses infatuation or affection for the receiver. Finally, gladiolus is also recognized by some as having medicinal properties.

Flowers have always been part of human fascination. Flowers are symbols of beauty and affection. Flowers are also used to show sympathy. Flowers are generally used as ornaments, but there are some flowers that are utilized as ingredients in gourmet food.

Some flowers also have medicinal value. For instance, some cultures like the ancient South American civilization of the Aztecs used dahlia flowers to treat epilepsy. Many other types of flowers have historical significance or at least played a part in the development of history.

Tulip is one type of flower that has a long history. For over a thousand years, wild tulips originally grew in Persia. The word tulip is actually thought to be a corruption of the Turkish word for turbans. Tulips had been source of inspiration for Persian poets and Persian artists often used tulips as subjects for their paintings. Hence, Europe considered tulip as the symbol of the Ottoman Empire. Tulip was introduced in Europe through the Venetian trade with Turkey. At around 1610, tulip became a popular ornament among French ladies. Tulip trade was a very lucrative business enterprise in Europe.

There are about 270,000 species of flowers that so far have been documented, but only a handful of these flowers have significance in civilization history. Admittedly, no other flower has more historical significance and popularity than the rose. The rose has been a favorite topic of many writers throughout the centuries, inspiring romance and representing beauty. William Shakespeare once wrote, “A rose by any other name, smells as sweet.” The rose was also the symbol used by one of the most famous family feuds in history, the War of the Roses.

The rose was introduced by the Greeks to the ancient Roman city. Roman streets were strewn with rose petals during public games. On the other hand, the rich Romans maintained huge rose gardens intended for their gravesites. They believed that roses were pleasing to the spirits of the dead.

Roses were widely used for ornamental purposes in Europe during the Roman Empire. On the other hand, early Christians considered the rose as a symbol of paganism. A church authority, Tertullian, even wrote an entire book volume condemning the flower in the year 202 A.D.

Ancient people rely on the healing wonders of herbs in curing health problems. Plants have natural organic chemicals that can be used to treat certain illnesses. Herbalists are the first doctors and pharmacists of ancient societies. Although they may not have the specific knowledge of the chemical compositions of plants, their methods are effective. Herbal remedies were developed based on experience and observation. In fact, some herbal remedies are still use today as alternative medicines.

The South American civilization of the Aztecs, for instance, used herbal remedies to treat common ailments. Dahlia is a flower used by ancient Aztecs to treat epilepsy. A document written in Latin was discovered in 1929. This document described the method of Aztecs in treating epilepsy using dahlia flowers. This document was written just sixty years after Columbus discovered the American continent.

In the 1840’s, French potato crop had been destroyed by a disease. The scientific community in Europe considered dahlia as possible food source. In Europe, dahlia was once used to treat diabetics. Before the discovery of insulin, diabetics were given sugar made from dahlia tubers. Chemicals derived from dahlia flower were also used in clinical tests for liver and kidney functions.

Flowers, like soft music, invite sweet romantic moods. Flowers have always been symbols of beauty and affection. Incidentally, flowers are actually the reproductive parts of plants. Hence, flowers are very appropriate symbols used in courtship. On the other hand, flowers are also used in more gloomy situations. Flowers have been used for millennia as part of funeral rites. The earliest evidences of the use flowers in burial rites are the fossils of pollen grains and petals in a Neanderthal burial site. Flowers have been associated with procreation and life even before humans invented the written language.

Daisy is one type of flower that has a long history associated with humans. One Celtic legend tells a story of children who died in childbirth. The spirits of these children scattered daisies on the earth to cheer their sorrowing parents. On the other hand, golden hairpins with daisy designs were found in an ancient Minoan palace on the Island of Crete. These hairpins were dated to be more than 4000 years old. Egyptian ceramics are also decorated with daisies. The old English name of daisy was day’s eye, in reference to the way this flower opens and closes with the sun.

Most girls love to receive flowers. Some guys give their beloved a bunch of flowers to express their earnest sweet love. Normally, men prefer to give roses than any other flowers in the flower shop. But some women like roses more, especially if red. However, roses have a colorful background. They were used to express affection, beauty, conflict and politics of famous historical personalities once upon a time.

A garden of roses was first discovered somewhere in Asia, about 5000 years ago. The beauty of the flower was brought to Europe, and from then on, roses became part of many occasions. During the Roman Era, roses were used for celebrations, for medical uses, or for perfume manufacturing.

The "War of the Roses" happened in 15th Century, when the white and red roses were used to symbolize factions fighting to have power over England. Also, the wife of Napoleon, Josephine, was fascinated with roses, too. She worked on her roses collection at Chateau de Malmaison, in 1800.

There are more untold stories of roses in the past. But what we know, roses are famous flowers and will still be part of more stories in the future.

Botanists declare that there are at least 270,000 living species of flowers that have been documented in one way or another. This amazing diversity is perhaps only comparable to the diversity of insects. Flowers and pollinating insects have influenced each other’s evolution. Flowers are considered as the symbols of beauty and affection. Hence, it is not surprising that flowers are used as gifts in romantic dating. The fragrance of flowers is a natural perfume that attracts not only the pollinating insects, but also the human senses. On the other hand, the colors of flowers excite the visual aesthetic sense. Thus, it is not surprising that flowers are common elements in some exquisite interior designs.

On the other hand, there are species of flowers which have historical significance. The flower calendula, for instance, had been used by the Romans as seasoning for meat and salad dishes. Calendula flower is mixed with vinegar for this purpose. The ancient Romans also believed that calendula blossoms in wine can help soothe indigestion. The petals of calendula were used in herbal ointments that cured skin irritations, toothaches, sore eyes, and jaundice.

Austria has edelweiss, Netherlands has tulip, Philippines has sampaguita, and Japan has chrysanthemum.

Flowers are not only symbols of love or emotions but are also the pride of different countries. Some countries are known because of their national flower. Although edelweiss, tulip, sampaguita and chrysanthemum can also be produced in other countries, the flower that is associated with a country helps in the flowers' promotion and the country itself.

Flowers are chosen as national symbols by the qualities they possess which the country is proud to have, too. They are also given this status if they are most popular among other countries. National flowers give a feel of patriotism to its citizens.

This is true in the example of the song which the Austrian leader, father of the children and Maria's love interest, sang in the "Sound of Music" movie. "Edelweiss, edelweiss..." as the song goes which is offered to the love of country. Sampaguita on the other hand, is used as necklace to give as gifts to tourists who visit the Philippines. It is also the most popular flower to hang and offer on religious statues.

All these traits make the flower the most sentimental symbol there is. Even for love of a woman or love for a country, flowers are best used.

Pardon the redundancy of this article. I just can't think of any better flower to fit the season of love than the 'rose'.

Valentine's Day is here. Although most people would say that this holiday is not really special because some money-hungry capitalist just thought about cashing in on some vague notion that February 14 should be the day when people should shell-out hard-earned cash just to profess their love for each other. Let's just say that these people usually spend their Valentine's Day alone.

It is imperative that I bring up the topic of roses again because it's the most popular flower on Hearts' Day. It is the flower that has the largest number of purchases on February the 14th.

We all know how roses look like. It is almost the same although it comes from different groups of cultivation. They differ in colors and the colors have symbolism.

Red is for love, pink for grace, light pink for admiration or sympathy. White is when you want to say "You're heavenly" or "I'm worthy of you..." or you want to symbolize innocence, purity or secrecy. Yellow is when you want to say "I'm jealous" or when you want to show platonic love. Orange is for passion, burgundy is for beauty and blue is for mystery.

Choose the flower that best describes what you feel because if you can't say it with words, say it with flowers, dude.

Don't you just love dolphins? I think they're absolutely adorable. Dolphins always resonate that friendly, cheerful, and warm effect on people. And I just love the idea that there's actually a flower that resembles a dolphin. It's called the Delphinium. I wasn't actually aware that such a flower existed.

The Delphinium flower is not a very common garden flower. The flower has lovely spikes with different jewel-like colors. The spikes may range from blue, lavender, off-white, and bright white. The word Delphinium came from the Greek word "delphis", which basically means "A Dolphin." The flower resembles the dolphin's nose, like a bottle. In the ancient times, the Delphinium is used to drive away the stinging scorpions. In the west coast of Native America, the Delphinium is used to make the blue dye. According to the history of Europe, the Europeans used to grind the Delphinium petals and use them as ink.

This flower is not commonly grown in the typical house gardens. Although this flower is fairly easy to grow under favorable weather, they can be like wild flowers. But, it's not suggested to just plant them anywhere and everywhere. This is because the flower's parts are poisonous. It would be hazardous to the children's health.

They come in pink and yellow, but you can't wear them. I'm talking about orchids named the Ladyslippers which bloom from April through June. Ocassionally, large numbers can be found in one area. Pink Ladyslippers are generally found in acid soils near Pine trees. These orchids rely on a particular fungus present in the soil for their growth.

The Yellow Ladyslipper has been called by the common name of American Valerian, because of its similar calmative effects. It was widely used during the 19th Century as a sedative and to relieve pain. Large doses can cause disorientation and headaches. Both have been used for medical purposes. These days, it is already prohibited to harvest the yellow ones due to rarity. It is said that Ladyslippers may cause contact dermatitis. Pink's scientific name is Cypripedium acaule while yellow's is Cypripedium calceolus var. pubescens. The LadySlippers provide not only beauty but also medicine. Just remember, they're not for your feet!

There are various flowers and herbs in a garden that one can use for his cooking or for medical purposes. One such kind is the Rosemary.

This flower was originally grown in the monasteries in the Mediterranean. This became widely popular but was its widespread cultivation was deterred because of its vulnerability to cold. This plant only used to grow in warm places but there are now freeze-tolerant cultivars that have been invented.

The strong aroma of the rosemary is what makes it appealing to people, most especially to culinary enthusiasts. The rosemary is being likened to eucalyptus or camphor. The leaves of this plant are what people most often use in cooking. The leaves do not lose its aroma and flavor even with long cooking. The smell of rosemary is what attracts people to use it.

From a distance Gaillarda looks like a daisy, but it has garish yellow and orange petals, with eyes the color of burgundy. This flower has been discovered accidentally in and English garden center. It may look delicate but a Blanket Flower, or Fanfare, is a brash and hardy perennial. In fact, it is one of the longest-thriving perennials. Its spliced stem survives on the water for a week, and the flower itself outlives the drought. Blanket flowers are perfect for hot gardens and patios.

The sturdiness of the Blanket flower is disguised in the soft trumpet-like petals. They can be planted on sunny rock gardens and Xeriscapes. During summer the best way to produce the Fanfares in full bloom is to regularly deadhead them.

Daisies are one of the popular flowers that adorn the gardens of homes. Based on the Celtic stories, the children's spirits taken during childbirth showered these flowers on earth. They did this so they could cheer up the parents they left.

Based on ceramics, artifacts, etc. with daisy designs, experts have come to the conclusion that the flower already existed over 4,000 years before.

In English, the flower was called Day's eve. It was named this way because the daisy opens and even closes along with the bright sun. For this reason, ancient civilizations also thought that the flower could cure eye problems.
In French, they called it Marguerite which came from a Greek word translated as pearl.

For the Assyrians, they used it to darken their already gray hair. Truly, this flower which has existed for many years is a beauty.

Gladiolus, especially the orange color, is one of the most refreshing flowers I have ever seen. The gladiolus plant grows pretty fast and its flowers are uniquely organized in vertical lines, usually in yellowish and orange hues. What do we know about the gladiolus' history? Well, the gladiolus is a descendant of the iris or iridaceae family and it name is originally from the Latin word gladius, which stands for sword. This background explains why the leaves of the gladiolus are distinctly thin and long-shaped. There are about two hundred species of gladiolus, and taking care of these requires more water especially when the flowers are already blooming. Nevertheless, I am sure these flowers are a great accessory to any house.

There are countless species of violets in the world but one definite characteristic that sets them apart from any other plants: they have five oddly-shaped petals with colors ranging from blue to purple to lavender.

Violets have a majestic history, having been worn by Josephine, wife of Napoleon Bonaparte during their wedding. This inspired Napoleon to choose violet as the emblem of their army. It brought him the nickname of Corporal Violet. At his death, he wore a necklace of violets which he had picked during his visit to the gravesite of his wife.

Myths about the violets abound. These flowers are a boon when one dreams of them, but when they grow in autumn; it is believed that epidemics will occur the next year. Old wives say that we should wear violets to cure vertigo.

One thing I really like about having flowers in the garden is the kind of calmness and positivity that they radiate in the area. Like the sturdy trees, I think flowers also have gentle, kindred spirits. Aside from the bright colors that nourish your vision, each flower has a certain kind of character that is specially and inherently unique.

Daisies, for instance, remind me of purity and innocence. In spite of their small size and fragile frame, daisies add a glow to any flower or anything that surrounds it. I remember when I was young, I once mistook a daisy for a small sunflower. I guess in being a sunshine to others, they are the same, but daisies bring a different level of joy that is loudly delightful and at the same time, peacefully reassuring.

Fresh from the gardens of Naples are the world renowned Sunflower. For centuries this flower has captivated horticulturist and other people with its beauty and charm. Sunflower, though common has its own distinction. It emanates a rare energy that transforms negative feelings into positive manifestations. As the flower reflects the sun, its color becomes so evident and attracts a lot of attention. Concerning its cultivation, the sunflower can be considered as one of the easiest to grow. Propagating a sunflower is not that hard compared to other flowers. Sunflower usually adapts to any environment for as long as there is enough sunlight. The beauty of the Sunflower is seen as the buds start to appear during spring. Its full grandiose envelops Naples during summer reflecting magnificence beyond explanation.

Believed to have originated in Mexico, it was brought to the land of America in 1928. The person responsible for this was the Ambassador of the US in Mexico, Dr. Joel Roberts-Poinsett.

In its native country, it could reach the height of 16 feet. The scarlett hue of the leaves is caused by the bracts. These are the sections that develop before a flower.

Because its leaves turn red every Christmas, it has been referred to as the flower of Christmas. Mexican stories also stated that the bracts are like flowers in Bethlehem, it has been used as the holiday decorations of churches and every home. Today, poinsettias also come in the colors pink and cream.

The Christmas flower belongs to the spurge or euphobia family. In medieval ages, it was used to cleanse the body from melancholy and black bile.