There are few things in life which can bring a smile to a face like a bunch of freshly picked flowers. Receiving a bouquet direct to your door, gathering a small posy in a meadow, cutting a few tall stems from your garden, or just picking up a commercially prepared bunch while shopping in the supermarket - all of these can change your day for the better.
It is so easy to fill your life with beauty without going to great expense. You can grow flowering plants, whether bulbs, annuals, perennials, shrubs or trees, in relatively small spaces: in gardens, on a patio, in windowsill troughs, and in pots and hanging baskets. You don't even need to have a garden, as you can enjoy whatever is growing all year round during a walk in the park, the woods or the countryside.
Whatever the season and wherever you live, something will be in bloom to decorate your table, adorn a shelf, or brighten up a dark corner of your home or work place. Springtime bulbs and delicate blossom, frothy summertime blooms, the rich hues of autumn and the strong clear colours of wintertime plants - there is so much to choose from.
Flowers play a part in so many areas of culture and daily life. They have given their names to shades of color. Hyacinth blue, poppy red, sunflower yellow and fuchsia pink immediately conjure up a picture which most people recognise. In every landscape and climate, whether tropical, temperate, alpine or desert the colors and names of flowers are associated with things of great importance in our lives.
Particular plants represent human qualities which are universally valued and respected. Roses mean love for many people. Lilies symbolise purity. Tulips were brought to the Netherlands in the 16th century and fortunes were made and lost over them, as they became symbols of status and wealth. Camellias are sometimes given to express devotion. The beautiful mauve pendulous blooms of the climbing wisteria are associated with playfulness and adventure. For some, the wonderfully varied chrysanthemum is a sign of mourning.
Some countries have national floral emblems: the lotus in Egypt, the Libyan pomegranate blossom, the blue poppy of Bhutan. Ancient Chinese dynasties adopted the peony and plum blossom, sunflower and chrysanthemum. In the United States, each state has adopted its own symbol, for example the forget-me-not for Alaska, and in Arkansas it's apple blossom.
Floral themes have inspired designers world wide and throughout the ages. Furniture, china, fabric, wallpaper, clothing, jewellery and hair ornaments which incorporate floral decorative motifs can be found all over the world.
Floral signatures are crucial to the creation of excellent perfumes. Just thinking of orange blossom, gardenia, jasmine or the glorious night-time fragrance of frangipani, can conjure up the memory of a heady scent.
At festivals and special occasions, such as weddings, birthdays, feast days and baby namings, flowers always play a crucial part. When congratulations are in order, a potted plant or a special bouquet can be just what is required. Whenever you're looking for a lovely present, there will be a floral arrangement to suit the occasion.
