Whether for Valentine’s Day or any other special occasion, people enjoy giving or receiving flowers as a sign of one’s devotion. Flowers can be used to show anything from friendship to sympathy, but they are likely most famous for their romantic connotations. For instance, flowers are prominent in almost every stage of a relationship: dates, weddings, and anniversaries.
Regardless of the event, flowers hold a universal message of love and unity. However, each flower also has its own unique meanings. Color can also play a role. For example, white is a common symbol for purity, pink for young or first love, and red for passion.
When deciding on which kinds of flowers to give, consider not only the receiver’s preferences but also the flower’s symbolism.
Flower Types and Meanings:
1. Roses.
Roses are the traditional choice of flowers to give, especially red ones, because of their obviously romantic associations. They are also one of the showier flowers, which makes them perfect for making a statement or romantic gesture. Their most common meanings, depending on which of the dozen colors, are beauty, desire, and admiration.
In folklore, they are typically used for love spells.
2. Tulips.
Tulips are less famously associated with romance, but their graceful shape still lead them to be a favorite among friends and family. Because of its variety of bright colors, this flower is most often associated with cheerfulness and prosperity.
For magical purposes, tulips are commonly used for protection and cleansing.
3. Lilies.
From their appearance and famous religious associations, lilies are most commonly viewed as a symbol of peace. They are also frequently considered signs of both chastity and motherhood. Overall, this flower is a wonderful representation of femininity.
Since they are also associated with the return of spring, lilies often represent rebirth and fertility.
4. Orchids.
Even though they are infamous for being hard to keep alive indoors, orchids are highly valued for their unique beauty. Colors range from bold to delicate, giving this flower the perfect combination of grace and exoticism. Orchids are often used as symbols of luxury and elegance.
They are also used in love rituals, and some cultures even consider this flower a powerful aphrodisiac.
5. Carnations.
Carnations are a popular flower for expressing any form of love and also possess much religious symbolism. For example, pink carnations are associated with the Virgin Mary and represent a mother’s love.
For magical purposes, carnations are used to cleanse negative energy associated with love.
6. Irises.
These flowers are also unique for their bold shapes and colors. Overall, irises represent harmony, especially when considered alongside their symmetry and structure. Other common associations are royalty and femininity.
In addition to having strong symbolism in mythology, the iris is considered a sacred flower with healing properties.
7. Violets.
Despite their name, these flowers come in a range of both dark and bright colors. The color usually determines what kind of meaning the flower signifies, including love, purity, and faith. Violets are also associated with religious figures.
According to folklore, these flowers are especially useful in both love and protection rituals.
Flower Preservation Ideas:
After receiving flowers, consider how long you want to store them. For many people, the idea or memory is enough and they choose to simply keep the accompanying card. However, if one bouquet or even one single flower means enough to you to hold onto after the expiration date, there are multiple ways to preserve it.
First, one easy method of drying flowers is to let them hang upside down in a dark place and spray them with hairspray. After a few days, the hairspray will keep the petals strong and attached so that everything stays intact once you are ready to move them. You can display flowers in cases or simply around the house in frames or special vases.
Possibly the simplest way to preserve flowers is to press them. Just set a single flower in between middle pages of a book then close it. If you want to keep both the pages and the flower free from contamination, separate them with parchment paper. For best results, leave the flower in the closed book for at least a week. Then decorate with the pressed flowers or leave them in the books as bookmarks or private keepsakes.
Lastly, one of the most useful methods of preserving flowers is to just keep the buds and petals for potpourri. Let them dry naturally and, if you want an even stronger fragrance, add drops of essential oils with the same scent. If you do add the essential oil, store the mixture in an air-tight container for weeks to achieve the best fragrance. Otherwise, you can simply keep the petals in a closed box or jar then release the memorable scent whenever you open it.
