Stop & Smell The Roses

image: Custom Design by Flower Design by Bridget

It's March - well, early March.  Which means that Spring is just around the corner and Winter is just starting to finally fall behind us.  We are soon to be past the months with the least amount of sunshine and resultant winter gloom that effects many people.  Spring is coming, as proven by the flowers that start to show their beautiful faces.  And the time comes when we can actually, literally, stop and smell the roses.

Did you know that while this does have the figurative meaning of taking time to appreciate the beauty in life and not rush past all the wonderful moments, actually smelling roses has been thought to have health benefits dating all the way back to Ancient Persia?

Rose oil has been known as everything from an antidepressant to an aphrodisiac over the ages, with multiple uses in between 

Roses can also be used in a wide variety of recipes!  While burying your nose in the soft petals and breathing in their sweet scent can be soothing all on its own, you can actually get food-grade roses for everything from custard to cupcakes!  (How's that for the perfect touch to a garden party?!).  And if you are feeling particularly adventurous, you could make a whole menu from edible flower ingredients! 

My personal favorite though, is working roses into a bouquet, or specially designed arrangement where the roses are accented by maybe sunflowers or tulips, or the roses themselves are the accent, bringing a touch of class to a simpler design.  Then there is always the simple bouquet of a dozen roses all by themselves.  

We know that the color of a rose can have many different meanings.  Red of course means "I love you" and communicates passion.  Meanwhile pink is a softer more friendly liking, good for a gift for a daughter or friend or for a younger couple.  White means purity,as always.  And yellow is the color of friendship.  So while we are waiting for the Earth to spin just a little bit closer to the sun, and for the long days of Winter to finally, fully give way to the Spring, make sure you stop and smell the roses.  And share some of the rose love.  Be it for a lover, partner, friend (or even for yourself!), give your nose a relaxing treat with the scent of a fresh rose!

Or, if you are feeling adventurous, give your taste buds a treat with a rose-themed dish! 

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Bridget is the proud Owner of Flower Design by Bridget, bringing European Certification and 20 years experience to Pinellas County, Florida, where she lives with her husband (Air Force, Ret.) and two children.  When she is not in her shop, you will find her enjoying a cup of Roiboos tea with her family and several cats and dogs (including one named Daisy).  While the holiday greens and decorations of December are her favorite, she looks forward to bringing you sunshine and smiles through flowers all year round!   

To Rose or Not To Rose?

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It's almost that time - February 14th is right around the corner, and with it, last minute Valentine's Day orders for flowers to be delivered to the people we love!

But did you ever wonder why it is we send flowers in the first place?

If you are familiar with the initial story, without getting into the religious history, the short version involves a message of love being sent, and flowers have been used to communicate silent messages for centuries.  

Thank tradition, or popular culture, but around 3/4 of all men have given flowers to their love on St. Valentine's Day, and majority of those have sent roses!  While roses have been a symbol of love and passion since ancient Egypt (the rose was sacred to many Goddesses), there are many other flowers which also can symbolize love and passion, without falling into the cliche, (or while working with a tight budget...).

Orchids are a symbol of love, wisdom, beauty, seduction and refinement.  They also have no scented pollen, which makes them fantastic flower choices for people with allergies.  Their lack of scent and uncommon allergic reactions are also why orchids became so popular in the restaurant and hotel industry.  A hotel lobby can maintain the class of fresh flowers with an intricate orchid arrangement, and not have to stock up on extra tissues.  For this reason they make an excellent Valentine's Day choice if your love has sensitivities to pollen or scented flowers.

Tulips are another flower that mean love - the red tulip symbolizing "perfect love" and pink and yellow tulips symbolizing caring and being hopelessly in love.  In Holland brides do not wish for roses on their special day.  The popular flower there is a tulip, frequently seen in wedding decor and in bridal bouquets.  Cut tulips also tend to last longer in a vase than other cut flowers, and for this reason make for a smart choice by those who like to enjoy their bouquet.

Do you want to go in a completely different direction?  Birds of Paradise.  These vibrant and energized flowers symbolize faithfulness, celebrate distinctive and unique beauty, while also being meant to express freedom and joy.  If you are looking to add a zestful and powerful statement to any delivery for your Valentine, these beautiful blooms take the cake!  They also are stunning alone, and with the right greenery can create an impact with only one or two stems (as depending where you live, they can be pricey).

So what will it be for you this Valentine's Day?  Stick with tradition?  Or mix it up with an alternate silent yet beautiful message of love?

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Bridget is the proud Owner of Flower Design by Bridget, bringing European Certification and 20 years experience to Pinellas County, Florida, where she lives with her husband (Air Force, Ret.) and two children.  When she is not in her shop, you will find her enjoying a cup of Roiboos tea with her family and several cats and dogs (including one named Daisy).  While the holiday greens and decorations of December are her favorite, she looks forward to bringing you sunshine and smiles through flowers all year round!   

The Language of Flowers

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While flowers are beautiful just as themselves, they actually have a long history of being used in messages sent where words were either forbidden or impossible.  Where lovers or friends wished to send secret messages to each other, they could send a single blossom or a full collection of blooms to convey feelings.  And not always nice ones!  

We tend to associate flowers with feelings of liking or affection, but did you know that once upon a time you could send someone a bouquet that said you had nothing but disdain for them, or that you suspected them of capriciousness?  Add in one other flower and you could accuse them of frigidity and heartlessness!  While one flower meant the love of a woman or mother, another meant the passion of a lover - not to be confused with each other!
Today we tend to select flowers based on their coloring or style or even just availability.  But the history of the flowers have created trends that stay even today.  White Calla Lilies have been a popular choice for wedding bouquets for years because they are so simple and classically elegant, but they also once symbolized magnificence, beauty, purity and innocence.  

And though chrysanthemums are more simple, a bouquet of red and white chrysanthemums says love, truth and loyalty and make them a fantastic choice for a Valentine's Day bouquet on a budget, even though the historical meaning of the blossoms is no longer well known.

Want to send an empowering arrangement to a friend?  Send a mixture of white and heather lavender.  The lavender shows admiration, solitude and beauty and the white stands for protection and indicates that wishes will come true.  Plus they are such a beautiful and simple flower, they make for a sweet touch to any room on any day.

Going to visit someone in their new home or looking for an extra add on to a wedding gift?  Bring them potted or cut Anthuriums.  They symbolize hospitality and are also used to indicate happiness and abundance, a nice wish for anyone starting a new life.  For an even extra special touch, ask your florist to add a little note with your wishes for them.

While thankfully now we can just enjoy the beauty and color and style of flowers, no matter what their message used to be, and we can create the perfect arrangement for the people we love!  But it is still fun to know the original meaning these blooms have!

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Bridget is the proud Owner of Flower Design by Bridget, bringing European Certification and 20 years experience to Pinellas County, Florida, where she lives with her husband (Air Force, Ret.) and two children.  When she is not in her shop, you will find her enjoying a cup of Roiboos tea with her family and several cats and dogs (including one named Daisy).  While the holiday greens and decorations of December are her favorite, she looks forward to bringing you sunshine and smiles through flowers all year round!