“…In triumph over hearts that strive, I may see the Glory of Spring that hyacinth may a longer day endure. How well I, the skillful gardener, grew where from above the milder sun deals flowers and herbs anew.” – Sonia A Willars
According to Greek mythology, there was a handsome young man from Sparta called Hyacinthus. Apollo, the Sun God, was his great friend. Apollo would descend to earth from his golden chariot in the sky just so the two friends could play together. One day when Zephyrus, the God of Wind; jealously watched, he blew a strong wind toward a disc that Apollo threw to Hyacinthus, striking him a fatal blow to the head. Apollo, filled with grief, created hyacynthus from the young lad’s blood, ensuring Hyacinthus’ memory would live on.
The Hyacinth was brought early to Europe from Turkey and grown in Europe’s first botanical garden in Padua, Italy. Originally there were only four colors, but by 1775, more than two thousand named cultivars inhabited the earth.
Be sure and order your flowers early for Mother’s Day at Eden Florist. Call 954-981-5515 or visit our website at www.EdenFlorist.com
Welcome to Flowers and Colors – The Secrets to Creating Moods through One of Natures Greatest Gifts – Flowers.My name is Heidi Richards Mooney, Owner of Eden Florist and I am delighted to share a journey through floral history, myth and symbolism with you.
Mistletoe and Holly
Two hundred years before the birth of Christ, the Druids used mistletoe to celebrate the coming of winter. They would gather this evergreen plant that is parasitic upon other trees and used it to decorate their homes. They believed the plant had special healing powers for everything from female infertility to poison ingestion. Scandinavians also thought of mistletoe as a plant of peace and harmony. They associated mistletoe with their goddess of love, Frigga. The custom of kissing under the mistletoe probably derived from this belief. The early church banned the use of mistletoe in Christmas celebrations because of its pagan origins. Instead, church fathers suggested the use of holly as an appropriate substitute for Christmas greenery.
Poinsettias Poinsettias are native to Mexico. They were named after America’s first ambassador to Mexico, Joel Poinsett. He brought the plants to America in 1828. The Mexicans in the eighteenth century thought the plants were symbolic of the Star of Bethlehem. Thus the Poinsettia became associated with the Christmas season. The actual flower of the poinsettia is small and yellow. But surrounding the flower are large, bright red leaves, often mistaken for petals.
The Christmas Tree The Christmas Tree originated in Germany in the 16th century. It was common for the Germanic people to decorate fir trees, both inside and out, with roses, apples, and colored paper. It is believed that Martin Luther, the Protestant reformer, was the first to light a Christmas tree with candles. While coming home one dark winter’s night near Christmas, he was struck with the beauty of the starlight shining through the branches of a small fir tree outside his home. He duplicated the starlight by using candles attached to the branches of his indoor Christmas tree. The Christmas tree was not widely used in Britain until the 19th century. It was brought to America by the Pennsylvania Germans in the 1820′s.
June is Rose month and before its over, I thought I’d write about how many roses get their name.
Famous people have been the inspiration for naming beautiful roses for almost as long as the rose has been around. In fact, the naming of rose hybrids in honor of loved ones, ex-presidents such as John F. Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln, First Ladies like Barbara Bush, royalty such as Queen Elizabeth and Princess of Monaco or religious leaders like St. Patrick, Cardinal de Richelieu, and Billy Graham are just a few of the thousands of “celebrities” who’s names were given to roses of all shapes, sizes and varieties.
One might think naming a rose after a famous person is a badge of honor however according to the Rose Hybridizers Association its more about name recognition. The more recognizable the name, the easier the rose is to market
“The rose is the queen of flowers. It’s the most beloved garden plant. What better way to immortalize our stars… says Tom Carruth, the legendary hybridizer and creator of the Julia Child, Betty Boop, and George Burns roses.
GOOD CAN COME OUT OF THE NAMING OF A ROSE as evidenced by the sales of the Diana, Princess of Wales hybrid. In fact 15% of net sales has been donated to her Memorial Fund, as an ongoing effort to support the causes she devoted herself to.
I wonder why kind of rose they will name after Michael Jackson (rest in peace)? My guess is it will be something disarming, bright, showy and a little quirky.
Here are pictures of some famous roses:
Whoopi (for Whoopi Goldberg)
Chris Evert Rose
Dusty Springfield Rose
Freddy Mercury Rose
Other famous roses include:
Anne Boleyn
Betty Boop
Charles De Gaule
Christian Dior
Julia Child,
Leonardo da Vinci,
Michelangelo
Crown Princess Margareta
David Whitfield
DUCHESS OF CORNWALL
Florence Nightingale
Ingrid Bergman
Judy Garland
Picasso
Princess Alexandra
Queen Elizabeth
Queen Mother
Rob Roy
Robert Burns
Sir Walter Raleigh
Tina Turner
Videl Sassoon
Maria Shriver
Agatha Christie
Barbra Streisand
Barbara Bush
Bing Crosby
George Burns
Marilyn Monroe
Rosie O’donnell
Santa Claus l
Barbara Mandrell
Dolly Parton
The McCartney
The Cancer personality is often considered an emotional, incurable romantic. Sociable, loving and patient, their generous spirit, cancereans are sensitive and thoughtful.
You can cry on a Cancer’s shoulder, talk their ear off share your own burdens and they will react with compassion and thoughtfulness. Cancer’s tend to be home-bodies and create a loving nurturing environment for those they care about and for.
Cancers love larkspur, delphinium, or white lilies. A bouquet of white roses will touch their heart and express the perfect sentiment.
Cancers colors sea green, silver and cerulean blue and their birthstone is the pearl.
Did you know how Mother’s Day is celebrated in different parts of the world? Read below to find out some interesting facts about Mom’s the world over. And remember to order your special Mom FLOWERS early! You can order online or in person and you can us at: 954-981-5515 or 800-966-3336. Be sure to order early for best selection and preferred delivery times.
• Chinese family names are often formed (begin) with a sign that means “mother”. It’s a nice way of honoring their moms long past.
• The ancient Greeks celebrated Mother’s Day in spring, like we do. They used to honor Rhea, “mother of the gods” with honey-cakes and fine drinks and flowers at dawn. Sounds like the beginnings of the Mother’s Day tradition of breakfast in bed!
• Mother Shipton was a Prophetess in Britain 500 years ago. She could see the future, and predicted that another Queen Elizabeth would sit on the throne of England. (QE II)
• Japan’s Imperial family trace their descent from Omikami Amaterasu, the Mother of the World.
• Julia Ward Howe wrote the Battle Hymm of the Republic and was a staunch fighter for women’s rights. She staged an unusual protest for peace in Boston, by celebrating a special day for mothers. Julia wanted to call attention to the need for peace by pointing out mothers who were left alone in the world without their sons and husbands after the bloody Franco-Prussian War.
• Hindu scripture credits the Great Mother, Kali Ma, with the invention of writing through alphabets, pictographs and beautiful sacred images.
• Mother Goose is one of the most popular of all children’s entertainers. Her books and stories have been loved for many generations.
• Native American Indian women have long been honored with the name, “Life of the Nation” for their gift of motherhood to the tribes
• Ancient Egyptians believed that “Bast” was the mother of all cats on Earth, and that cats were sacred animals.
• Buddha honored mothers when he said, “As a mother, even at the risk of her own life, loves and protects her child, so let a man cultivate love without measure toward the whole world.”
February’s birth flower is the Violet.It is also known as the African Violet. The flower is a five-petal velvety blossom that comes in shades of pinks, whites and purples. They are available as a houseplant or garden plant all year round.
Baron Walter Von Saint Paul Illaire is credited with discovering the violet plant in Tanzania in 1892.
Violet Facts, Trivia and Folklore:
♥ The Greek word for violet is io. Io is a character in Greek mythology and the daughter of King Argos. Zeus loved her. However, Zeus was concerned that Hera (his wife) would discover their affair, so he turned Io into a heifer and then created the sweet-scented flowers that we now know as violets for her to graze upon.
♥ Violets also have a unique method of reproduction, known as cleistogamy, which means to self-pollinate.
♥ During the Middle Ages, violets were a symbol for humility and modesty not only because of the blooming habits of the flower but also because of their association with the Virgin Mary.
♥ The god Hades fell in love with the maiden Persephone. One day while Persephone was walking through a field of violets, Hades carried her away to his land of death. The world mourned her death and became barren until Hades relented and agreed that Persephone could walk on the earth from spring through fall. Thus leading to violets symbolizing immortality, resurrection and spring.
♥ In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Ophelia, upon learning of the death of her father, Polonius, speaks to the queen in the language of the flowers, quite common in the 16th century.Her allusions are to the tragic event which has taken place and the emotions and attributes symbolized by certain flowers: rosemary for remembrance; pansies for love; fennel for flattery; columbine for ingratitude; rue for repentance; daisies for faithlessness; and violets for constancy or devotion.In act IV, scene 5, she sings distraughtly while in the company of the queen, “
I would give some violets, but they withered all when my father died: they say he made a good end .”
♥ The Greek dramatist, Aristophanes, referred to Athens in one of his plays as the violet-crowned city for King Ion (Ion means Violet).
♥ When French composer Frederick Chopin died, one of his music students Jane Sterling bought all the violets she could find in the flower shops of Paris to cover his grave. So beloved is Chopin that, even today visitors daily place flowers (frequently violets) on this grave in Paris.
♥ Josephine Bonaparte loved the scent of violets and thus they became her favorite perfume.Before Napoleon was exiled in Elba, Josephine died and he picked a bouquet of violets for her grave. When Napoleon died, violets and a lock of Josephine’s hair were found in a locket that he wore.
Camellia is a flower of the Theaceae family. Camellias have been known for centuries in the Orient. Camellia sinensis, the “common tea plant”, was used as a beverage (tea) by the Chinese as early as 500 B.C.Tea was a rare commodity in Japan during the Tang Dynasty (618 – 905 A.D.) and as such the elaborate tea ceremony developed for the royalty and elite. Tea is thought to have come to England in the late 16th or early 17th century brought by traders who traveled to the Orient in search of silks and spices and was considered so valuable that it was kept locked in silver tea caddies or boxes in the homes of the wealthy only.
It is thought that the camellia first came to Portugal in the first half of the 16th century. The first species of camellia to enter the United States was the tea plant in the form of seed. Camellia japonica plants were imported from England in 1797 or 1798 by John Stevens of Hoboken, New Jersey and became popular in the Northeast as greenhouse plants. Camellias gained in popularity and by 1920 Sacramento was named “Camellia City”. Camellias were named in posthumous honor of George Joseph Kamel by Carolus Linnaeus, the Swedish botanist who developed the binomial system of naming plants that is still in use today. Kamel, whose name in Latin was Camellus, was a Jesuit priest who served as a missionary to the Philippines.
In 1945 the American Camellia Society was formed. It has now grown to 4000 members in 44 states and 22 foreign countries with a permanent Headquarters in Fort Valley, Georgia.
LA TRAVIATA by Giuseppe Verdi is based on a play by Alexandre Dumas called LA DAME AUX CAMELIAS It served as a source of inspiration to the composer Verdi; which resulted in the opera ‘La Triviata’.
(wor calendae, pot marigold) ~ Means “Winning Grace” and “throughout the months.”
The name Calendula stems from the Latin kalendae, meaning first day of the month, presumably because pot marigolds are in bloom at the start of most months of the year.” ( wikipedia.com ) Historically Known for its medicinal and culinary value, the calendula was called “Mary’s Gold” by Early Christians. The would place calendula by the statues of the Virgin Mary to honor her. The most sacred of flowers of ancient India, calendula were strung into garlands to adorn holy statues.
A member of the marigold family, calendula is traditionally known as an herb as well as valued for its medicinal and culinary uses. In ancient times, calendula blossoms were mixed in wine to relieve indigestion. Calendula petals were used in ointments to heal skin irritations, jaundice, sore eyes, and toothaches. It is used to stimulate blood circulation and lower fevers (by causing sweating). It can also be used to treat diaper rash, as it promotes rapid healing. Calendula oil can be used to treat earaches, is a natural antiseptic and even helps heal hemmoroids.
The Romans used calendula mixed with vinegar to season their meat and salad dishes.
A Mediterranean annual plant (Calendula officinalis) in the composite family, widely cultivated for its showy, yellow or orange, rayed flower heads that were formerly used in medicine, coloring, and flavoring of food.
Calendula is also October’s Birth flower and the International Herb Association declared calendula flower of the year for 2008. Calendula has great anti-inflammatory properties and vulnerary properties. Its uses are varied — from soothing minor skin disorders like pimples and dry chapped lips to curing chicken pox etc.
The Christmas Tree originated in Germany in the 16th century. It was common for the Germanic people to decorate fir trees, both inside and out, with roses, apples, and colored paper. It is believed that Martin Luther, the Protestant reformer, was the first to light a Christmas tree with candles. While coming home one dark winter’s night near Christmas, he was struck with the beauty of the starlight shining through the branches of a small fir tree outside his home. He duplicated the starlight by using candles attached to the branches of his indoor Christmas tree. The Christmas tree was not widely used in Britain until the 19th century. It was brought to America by the Pennsylvania Germans in the 1820′s.
