5 Reasons to Keep Fresh Flowers in Your Home & Office

flowers by Bridget

The holidays, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Birthdays - we all know that those time periods mean fresh flowers all around!

But did you know that there are actually health benefits to be had for keeping fresh flowers in your home?  This has even been the subject of research done by Nancy Etcoff, Ph.D. of Harvard and another study earlier done by Rutgers University.

1. Fresh Flowers Brighten Morning Moods

People who see fresh flowers in the morning tend to be in a better mood during the day.  All the more reason to plant that flower garden or keep some fresh flowers in your kitchen!  The kitchen is where families tend to be in the morning, but you can also have fresh flowers by your bed, or in your bathroom.  

2. Flowers are helpful as we age

Flowers have been shown to improve social interaction and memory in adults over 55 years of age.  So much so that in a study done on more than 100 seniors, 72% scored higher on memory tests.  While it might not be a holiday, sending Grandma and Grandpa fresh flowers helps more than just general disposition!

3. Flowers can help smooth interoffice relations

Another study concluded that having personal touches such as fresh flowers in your cubicle at work can contribute to a healthy work environment.  If you needed another reason, go ahead and get yourself that bouquet of flowers for your desk! 

4. Flowers chase away the blues

The Home Ecology of Flowers Study at Harvard found that people just simply felt less negative when being around flowers for extended periods of time.  People who live with flowers have less episodes of depression over-all as compared to people who do not.  All the more reason to keep a fresh cut bouquet on your dresser! 

5. Ordering fresh flowers means you can have all the benefits delivered to your door

If time is not something you have an abundance of, ordering from a local florist means you can have quality, artisan fresh designs brought right to you, fresh weekly if you so chose!  You will be supporting local business, and knowing that you are getting quality flowers that will last and help keep you happy and motivated during your busy week!

With that, send someone you love some fresh flowers to brighten their day!  You can even send them a blooming dish garden for long lasting flowers!

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Bridget is the proud Owner of Flower Designs 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!

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!