Flower Guide
flowers have always been admired for their colorful beauty, so its no surprise that each flower has its own story to tell. Contributing to human history in some way or another, flowers have come to act as perfect symbols for a wide range of human emotions, moods, and ideas. Whats the tale behind your favorite flower?
Roses: Roses are very popular in modern times, but they have been cultivated for thousands of years, so the fame they enjoy now has its roots in antiquity. In Asia the cultivation of roses dates back 5000 years. In the Western world, the Greeks wore crowns of roses during feasts and introduced this flower to the Romans.
Although early Christians regarded the rose as a messenger of paganism and lust, it soon evolved into a symbol for the Virgin Mary. The rose can mean many different things: love, respect, courage, happiness, gentility, thankfulness, friendship, and desire, among other sentiments. The significance of a bouquet of roses all depends on the color of the roses you select.
Lilies: Lilies are mentioned in many ancient myths, and in particular, were important in ancient Minoan society, where pictures of these flowers have been discovered on the island of Crete. This flower is present in the Old and New Testament as well, symbolizing virtue and chastity - not surprising since the lily was a traditional representation of fertility in ancient traditions.
Tulips: Tulips grew wild in Persia over a thousand years ago and were important symbols in Near Eastern art, literature, and song. Because of its predominance in Persian culture, the tulip came to represent the Ottoman Empire in the eyes of Europe. In the 17th century, Venetian merchants brought tulips to Europe from Turkey. This began what has been dubbed "tulipmania" - during this time period people abandoned their jobs and families to become tulip growers and speculate in the tulip market. When tulip values eventually decreased, however, many people suffered financially.
Iris: The iris is named after the Greek goddess Iris, messenger of the gods and personification of the rainbow. Because it can be found in a wide array of vibrant colors, the name well befits this pretty bloom. Ancient Minoan and Egyptian culture used the iris in paintings and sculpture. The iris began as a religious symbol, which is why today it still represents faith and wisdom.
Orchids: Orchids originate in Greece and are also called ladies fingers, ladies tresses, and long purples. The ancient Greeks associated the consumption of this flowers tubers with influencing the gender of an unborn child. Eating large, new tubers would result in the birth of a boy, while eating small tubers would result in the birth of a girl. The vanilla orchid is the most famous flower in this family. The orchid is known as the flower of magnificence.
Daisies: Because this flower opens and closes with the sun, it is called the "days eye," or daisy. In ancient medicine people falsely concluded that the daisy could be used to cure eye problems because of this unique feature. The daisy is most noted as a symbol of innocence.
Sunflowers: Sunflowers turn in the direction of the sun and are named after this distinctive characteristic. The ancient Incan civilization in Peru apparently worshipped the sunflower, and Incan priestesses wore sunflower discs on their clothing. This powerful flower is the embodiment of adoration, pride, and of course, sunshine.
Carnations: The word carnation may come from several origins, but one possibility is that the word derives from "coronation" or "corone" (flower garlands) because the ancient Greeks would adorn their ceremonial crowns with carnations, as well as other flowers. Carnations offer a wide range of meanings. A carnation can be a token of fascination, capriciousness, innocence, and pure love. But carnations can also signify refusal and rejection, depending on the type of carnation selected.
