June Gift Flower: Rose

If there is one flower that we associate with gift-giving it's a rose.

From miniature roses for baby showers to wreaths with roses at funerals, roses are the go-to gift flower for a variety of occasions.

In the Language of Flowers, roses are by far the most popular flower and appear in many different types, colors and combinations. Their meaning has also evolved over the years. Yellow roses, for example, stood for being untrustworthy to the Victorian but by the mid-20th Centurey had come to symbolize friendship.

In general, a rose symbolizes full blown love. A red rose signifies "I love you."

And for those of you who think more is better, sometimes one rose is all you need to give. A single rose is beautiful all on its own.

Charlotte

April Gift Flower: Daisies

These simple but happy flowers don't usually bloom in Missouri in April so I waited to get some good pictures.

When I first started learning to identify Missouri wildflowers, this was the second easiest plant to identify. Ox-eye daisies grow from a ground-hugging green wreath of a start, the leaves frilly around the edges. When they are ready to bloom, the stems seem to shoot up overnight.

When finished blooming, the stems dry and the little ground-hugging wreath returns.

There are a number of other daisy-like varieties on the market. Shasta daisies are the domesticated version of these wild cousins but to me, Ox-eye daisies will always be what I think of when someone says daisy.

In the Victorian "language of flowers," these cheerful white flowers represent beauty and innocence.

 Charlotte

May Gift Flower: Lilies of the Valley

The May gift flower is Lilies of the Valley, a small, sweet-looking but poisonous plant that likes part-sun and moisture.

A friend of mine refers to Lilies of the Valley as grandma's flowers because she always came across them when she visited her father's Mother's farm. 

In my garden, these small plants can get lost among the other plants in a flower bed so I plant them in their own separate spot between beds. That gives them room to expand, are protected from trampling and, when it's time to bloom mid-spring, they can stand out on their own.

In the Victorian era's "language of flowers," when messages were snuck into flower bouquets, Lilies of the Valley symbolized the return of happiness. I'm certainly happy when I see them because they mean the growing season has finally arrived!

  

Charlotte

March Gift Flower: Jonquil

The traditional gift flower for March is a jonquil, not to be confused with daffodil although sometimes the words are used interchangeably.

Jonquils have several flowers on a stem, usually a scent, and tube-like green leaves as opposed to flat daffodil leaves.

Although in Missouri both grow in abandoned home sites, they should not be confused with native wildflowers. Both jonquils, and daffodils, are imported flowers that grow from bulbs.

In the Victorian language of flowers, which was used to send secret messages in bouquets, a jonquil was a request to have affection returned.

Charlotte

Handmade Flower Pen

This is such an easy project to make, just in time for Valentine's Day and, not too far behind, Mother's Day.

The children of an office colleague gave me this one. It lives in a flower vase on my desk, to be used only on special occasions. I moved it to the window to photograph.

To make, you will need silk flowers of your choice; writing pens and tape. Green floral tape is available at most craft shops but as you can see from my pen, masking tape will do, too.

You can even add a little white silk sprig to make it look a little more like a flower bouquet. And you can never go wrong with roses!

The most challenging part is getting the tape wrapped around the flowers and pen.

Once wrapped, add a flower vase, and a card. Or not.

Have you tried to make one?

Charlotte

January Flower of the Month

Carnations or Dianthus, their Latin botanical name, are the January flower of the month for personalized gift-giving.

Carnations, along with a number of favorite garden flowers, are ancient flowers, possibly named from the Greek word for flower garlands, since this long-lived flower was a popular choice for those floral decorations. According to the Victorian-era language of flowers, carnations in general represent fascination and divine love. Each different carnation flower color also has it's own special meaning:

Pink carnation: I will never forget you

Purple carnation: Capriciousness

Red carnation: My Heart Aches for You; admiration

Solid carnation: Yes

Striped carnation: Sorry I can't be with you or Wish I could be with you.

Yellow carnation: Rejection, you have disappointed me.

White carnation: Woman's good luck gift.

So what is this bouquet of carnations saying to you in the "language of flowers"?

Charlotte

January Birth Flower Carnation

The closest I get to growing carnations in Missouri is Sweet William, a member of the Pink family and hardy carnation cousin. Like roses and other flowers, raised carnations come in several different colors to convey different meanings. A pink carnation means affection. A red carnation means 'I love you.' White carnations mean pure love; striped carnations means regret that a love is not shared, and yellow carnations mean rejection or disappointment.

Carnations are a florist favorite because they are long-lasting, like chrysanthemums.

The other January birth flower for traditional personalized gifts is snowdrop, grown from tiny bulbs planted in fall that in Missouri bloom mid-spring. Snowdrops represent hope and beauty. 

Charlotte