1ST – THE PANSY
A great deal of poetry and thought has been given to love, magic and the potential of floral aphrodisiacs. The humble pansy, when put over the eyes of a sleeping person, compelled him or her to pursue the first person they set eyes on in the morning. Dedicated to St. Euphrasia, the pansy is celebrated on this saint’s day, the 13th of March. This flower of the ‘Viola’ family indicates deep thought. The upturned side petals and the large leafy stipules justify the name ‘pansy’ derived from the French “penser” which means ‘to think’. Pansies are available in assorted range of colours, such as, white, violet, and soft blue, purple and sometimes bi-coloured too.
2ND- COSMOS
Spanish priests grew cosmos in their mission gardens in Mexico. The evenly placed petals led them to christen the flower “Cosmos,” the Greek word for harmony or ordered universe. Cosmos originated in Mexico and South America. Freshly cut cosmos blooms make a bright airy bouquet. An arrangement of cosmos can last for 7 – 10 days. Select flowers whose petals have just unfolded; they will open fully once cut. Cut the flowers in the morning when their water content is highest and immediately place them in a deep container of tepid water. Before arranging, strip foliage from the lower portion of the stems. If leaves are submerged under water, they will decay quickly, shortening the life of the bouquet.
3RD- FUSCHIA
Fuchsias are flowering plants; mostly shrubs and can grow long shoots. The flowers are very decorative pendulous “eardrop” shape, borne in profusion throughout the summer and autumn, and all year in tropical species. They have four long, slender, sepals and four shorter, broader, petals; in many species the sepals are bright red and the petals purple (colours that attract the hummingbirds that pollinate them), but the colours can vary from white to dark red, purple-blue, and orange. The fruit is a small (5–25 mm) dark reddish green, deep red, or deep purple, edible berry containing numerous very small seeds. Many people describe the fruit as having a subtle grape flavour spiced with black pepper.
4TH- GERANIUM
Geraniums are loved for their colourful blossoms and aromatic oil as well as medicinal properties. This plant commonly found at your local greenhouse is actually a native wildflower of this region. The wild geranium is also called the Carolina geranium and is a semi-erect winter annual that is found throughout the United States and Canada. The healing properties of Geraniums include relief from symptoms of PMS and menopause, help in healing cuts, bruises, sunburn and eczema. Aids in the relief of haemorrhoids and can help reduce varicose veins and insomnia. The geranium has been used as a natural tick and insect repellent in dogs and humans.
5TH- DAISY
The Daisy is the flower bringer of good fortune and blissful pleasure. It is thought that the name “daisy” is a corruption of “day’s eye”, because the whole head closes at night and opens in the morning. The most common characteristic of all these plants, is that what in common dialect might be called a “flower”, is a flower head; a densely packed cluster of many small, individual flowers, usually called florets (meaning “small flowers”). Often considered a weed on lawns, though many also value the appearance of the flowers. Several cultivars and hybrids have been selected with much larger flower heads up to 5-6 cm diameter and with light pink to purple-red ray florets.
6TH- CALLA LILY
The word calla lily comes from the Greek work “kallos” meaning “beauty”. The calla lily is a popular wedding favourite, and there is little doubt as to why. With it’s beautiful shape and fluted cupflower, the calla lily looks much like a wedding champagne glass. The Calla Lily symbolizes It is a symbol for rebirth. It may be spiritual or concrete in meaning. Most people are familiar with white calla lilies but the calla lily also comes in several bright colours as well. Their leaves are mostly lance or heart-shaped and are a lovely dark green. There are a few sub-species that have been developed through hybridization that have spotted leaves.
7TH- JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT
The flowers blooms in April and May, the single is either all green or green with dark purple stripes, with an unusual formation, a sort of green vase, a spathe, made from a single leaf, with a stalk growing up the middle of it, and a leaf-hood folding gracefully over its top. Jack-in-the-Pulpit root is used in alternative medicine and is edible (only after drying and cooking), it is acrid, antiseptic, diaphoretic, expectorant, irritant and stimulant. A medicinal poultice of root used for headaches and various skin diseases. Ointment used for ringworm, tetterworm and abscess. This plant starts life male. After 2 years, or longer in poor soil, it turns female, flowers and bears seed. If the plant receives a shock, it may turn back male again. Gather roots in early spring and dry for later herb use. The women of some Native American tribes used the root as a contraceptive.
8TH- CLEMATIS
Clematis (from Ancient Greek klematis, a climbing plant, probably periwinkle) is a genus of mostly vigorous climbing lianas, with attractive flowers. Some species are shrubby, and some others are herbaceous perennial plants. They are found throughout the temperate regions of both hemispheres, and also in mountains in the tropics. The cool temperate species are deciduous, but many of the warmer climate species are evergreen. Most species are known as Clematis in English, while some are also known as traveller’s joy, leather flower, vase vine and virgin’s bower, the last three being names used for North American species. One recent classification recognised 297 species of clematis.
9TH- POPPY
Poppies make beautiful cut flowers, although their blooms last only a few days before their petals fall to the table. Hairy stalks support the vibrant blood red blooms; the rounded petals are broader than they are long, and often have a dark spot at the base. Pink or white flowers may also occur. Poppy seeds have been found in Egyptian relics dating from 2,500 BC, and the poppy has been a symbol of death and rebirth since these times; it grows in the fields, is cut with the harvest and always returns the following year (4). The profusion of poppies on the First World War battlefields of Ypres and the Somme struck a chord with all who saw them. The war-churned wasteland of mud, shell holes and broken bodies had been transformed into a dazzling display of wild flowers, healing the land. The poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ written by a Canadian volunteer medical officer in Ypres during the winter of 1915 was published around the world. Following the publication of this poem, the practice of wearing artificial poppies to commemorate Armistice Day on the 11th of November became very popular, and continues today.
10TH- DAFFODIL
A daffodil is any of numerous varieties of Narcissus plants having showy often yellow flowers with a trumpet-shaped central crown. Daffodil’s have meanings of faith, honesty, truth, forgiveness, and forthrightness. They are ever vigilant in returning each spring, and with their return we are reminded that their beauty is capable of following on the shirttails of even the harshest winters (or tribulations). Give daffodils to someone when as a token of forgiveness or give them away as a token of appreciation for their honesty.
11TH- MORNING GLORY
As the name implies, morning glory flowers, which are funnel-shaped, open in the morning, allowing them to be pollinated by hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and other daytime insects and birds. The flower typically lasts for a single morning and dies in the afternoon. New flowers bloom each day. The flowers usually start to fade a couple of hours before the petals start showing visible curling. It was first known in China for its medicinal uses, due to the laxative properties of its seeds. Ancient Mesoamerican civilizations used the morning glory to convert the latex from the Castilla elastica tree to produce bouncing rubber balls. The seeds of many species of morning glory contain the hallucinogenic ergonovine and ergine (LSA). Seeds of the morning glory are used as hallucinogens. The seeds can produce similar effect to LSD when taken in the hundreds. Aztec priests in Mexico were also known to use the plant’s hallucinogenic properties.
12TH- PEONY
The Japanese have always been a flower-loving people, and the beauty of the peony quickly became a part of their culture. To this day, it is a symbol of prosperity. Originally, it was confined to the possession of the elite and wealthy, so was quickly associated with wealth. According to Greek mythology, the Peony was named for Paeon, a physician. As usual in Greek myths, Paeon made the mistake of becoming involved with the gods, getting caught up in their personal problems. He helped one in time of trouble, making an enemy of another faction, and was saved from the fate of dying as other mortals, by being turned into a plant. The very same plant Paeon had used to heal the first god. Seeds from certain Peonies emanate a pale light in the darkness. To contain that magic, the roots could only be dug during the night. Bloom colours range from pristine white through pinks, cherries, reds, and corals and near-yellows. Many blooms will open to one color and then age to a second.
13TH-HOLLYHOCK
Hollyhock flowers are one of the marvels of the garden world. To begin with, they are one of the few garden plants that are *not* listed in Mrs Grieve’s “A Modern Herbal” indicating they have no known herbal use. They are simply nice looking plants. The flowers have been selected for variations in colour, with dark purple, red and white-flowered plants available in addition to the colours found in wild plants. While an individual plant might only live a handful of years, by that time chances are good it will leave plenty of descendants. They have very long taproots that make transplanting difficult.
14TH- DAHLIA
The Aztecs gathered and cultivated the dahlia for food, ceremony, as well as decorative purposes, and the long woody stem of one variety was used for small pipes. Dahlias are often grown for judged shows. Awards are given for best in class and best in show. Dahlia’s are spicy flowers, and their meanings range from a sign of warning, to change, to travel, to even a portent of betrayal. The varied symbolic meanings of the dahlia make this flower a wild card.
15TH- ROSE
Roses are ancient symbols of love and beauty. The rose was sacred to a number of goddesses (including Isis and Aphrodite), and is often used as a symbol of the Virgin Mary. ‘Rose’ means pink or red in a variety of languages (such as Romance languages, Greek, and Polish). Rose meanings vary according to colour. On the whole, however, roses are symbolic of deep love, concentration, intelligence, balance, and passion. They are also sometimes seen as a message for healing, revitalization, rejuvenation and courage. Roses are very complex in their features, and so therefore have complex meanings. The rose is the national flower of England and the United States. Attar of rose is the steam-extracted essential oil from rose flowers that has been used in perfumes for centuries. Rose water, made from the rose oil, is widely used in Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine. Rose hips are also used to produce oil used in skin products.
20TH-DAY LILY
The name Daylily originates from the Greek words (hēmera) “day” and (kalos) “beautiful”. The flowers of most species open at sunrise and wither at sunset, possibly replaced by another one on the same stem the next day. Some species are bloom at night. Daylilies are not commonly used as cut flowers for formal flower arranging, yet they make good cut flowers otherwise as new flowers continue to open on cut stems over several days. The flowers of some species are edible and are used in Chinese cuisine. They are sold (fresh or dried) in Asian markets as gum jum or golden or yellow flower vegetables. They are used in hot and sour soup, daylily soup, Buddha’s delight, and moo shu pork. The young green leaves and the tubers of some (but not all) species are also edible. The plant has also been used for medicinal purposes. Care must be use as some species can be toxic.
25TH-IRIS
Irises express peace of mind, Friendship, Faith, Hope, and Wisdom. Iris is a genus of flowering plants with showy flowers that takes its name from the Latin word for rainbow. There are many species of Iris, widely distributed throughout the North Temperate Zone. Their habitats are very varied and range from cold regions into the grassy slopes, meadowlands, stream banks and deserts of Europe, the Middle East and northern Africa, Asia and across North America. Elevation is of not much importance.
28TH-ORCHID
There is no flower more elegant, more magnificent than the orchid. The numerous varieties of Orchid plants originate primarily in the tropical and subtropical areas of Asia, Africa, South America, and the South Pacific islands. About 140 species of orchid plants are native to North America, usually as marshland plants or flowers of damp forests or meadows. Many orchid plant species have become tremendously popular over the years for two main reasons: Their beautiful showy blooms and the ease of care required. Orchids mean rare beauty, love, refinement, beautiful lady. It is also the Chinese symbol for many children, mature charm, beauty, and long life.
30TH- SWEET PEA
Sweet peas are beautifully scented flowers. They originated from Italy, and are grown in colours of purples, pinks, creams, and salmons. They are available march to november. Sweet peas are very delicate flowers and need to be kept cool, always in water, and away from ripening fruit. Commercial sweet peas are treated after cutting to prolong their life; garden-cut ones may only last one or two days but florists’ peas can last over a week. In the language of flowers sweet peas mean “delicate pleasures”.
40TH- NASTURTIUM
The Nasturtiums receive their name from the fact that they produce an oil that is similar to that produced by Watercress. The most common use of the nasturtium plant in cultivation is as an ornamental flower. It grows easily and prolifically, and is a self-seeding annual. All parts of the plant are edible. The flower has most often been consumed, making for an especially ornamental salad ingredient; it has a slightly peppery taste reminiscent of watercress, and is also used in stir-fry. The unripe seed pods can be harvested and pickled with hot vinegar, to produce a condiment and garnish, sometimes used in place of capers, although the taste is strongly peppery. They repel a great many pests, like squash bugs, cucumber beetles, and several caterpillars. They had a similar range of benefits for broccoli and cauliflower plants. Nasturtiums are sometimes planted in the hope of saving crops susceptible to them. They may also attract beneficial, predatory insects.
50TH- VIOLET
Viola species typically have heart-shaped, scalloped leaves, though a number have palmate leaves or other shapes. Flower colours vary, ranging from violet, through various shades of blue, yellow, white, and cream, whilst some types are bicolored, often blue and yellow. When newly opened, Viola flowers may be used to decorate salads or in stuffings for poultry or fish. Soufflés, cream and similar desserts can be flavoured with essence of Viola flowers. The young leaves are edible raw or cooked as a somewhat bland leaf vegetable. The flowers, leaves and roots of various Viola flowers are used for medicinal purposes, being rich in vitamins A and C. They also contain a type of antioxidant called an anthocyanin. Viola flowers are also used to make an herbal tea that is used in Chinese herbal medicine. They are also used as a source for scents in the perfume industry.
