COLOUR + FLOWERS = MAGIC!

I LOVE flowers! And not just because they look beautiful and smell divine, but because they are actually able to make a difference in our overall well being.

Flowers can do everything from improve our sleep and decrease our anxiety, to brighten our environment and improve our memory. Science and medical studies have proven flowers - whether a single stem or a large bouquet - will have a positive impact on us, so we should start including them in our daily lives now.

That’s the most important thing - to just have flowers in our environment as much as we can. But if you want to add another layer of ‘flower benefits’ to your health and well-being, consider the colour of the flowers too.

Every colour portrays a mood or feeling. Understanding what those ‘colour vibes’ are and how to pair them with flowers to make the most of their benefits is something you can eaisly do.

Here is a run-down of the emotion or feeling each colour portrays and an example of how to use them with flowers:

RED - Red represents love and courage, and is full of energy and excitement. A vase of red flowers in a creative work environment is sure to inspire and improve productivity.

ORANGE - Orange is a colour full of warmth and enthusiasm. It’s like liquid sunshine. If you work in an office, have a vase of orange blooms on your desk to bring some of that joy into the room.

YELLOW - Yellow is a cheerful colour full of optimism. If you are sending ‘get well’ wishes to someone, yellow flowers make the perfect choice.

GREEN - Green represents renewal, growth, and harmony. Choose ‘lime’ green flowers like zinnias or chrysanthemums to bring a pop of colour to the rest of a bouquet.

BLUE - Blue is a colour for calm and serenity. Pair pale blue flowers with other pastel coloured flowers and place in the bedroom to help with a restful nights sleep.

PURPLE - Purple is a colour of charm and dignity. Place an arrangement of purple flowers on your dining room table for a feeling of elegance.

PINK - Pink is the colour of compassion and nurturing. Place pink flowers on windowsills, mantle pieces, end tables, entrance ways, or anywhere you want to add a touch of pleasing beauty.

WHITE - White represents peace and simplicity. If you have a room that feels chaotic, add some white flowers for a feeling of tranquility.

Remember - Colours + Flowers = Magic!

Learning more about the meanings flowers have couldn’t be easier with just one click HERE .

CONNECTIONS & COLLABORATIONS

2025 is rolling right along and we’re about to find ourselves springing into March! This month's blog post is focused on connections and collaborations. I will (of course) be combining the topic with how flowers can help!

Connections

The two big connections in life are with family and friends. But connection with nature is right up there as one of the most important. Current research is showing that doctors are now prescribing time in nature for their patients' health. You can read about A Prescription for Nature and the benefits being in nature have HERE, so I won’t go into that. What I will do is share three ideas of small things you can do at home to connect with nature by using flowers that won’t cost a lot of money or take a lot of time. 

1 -Consider buying one bouquet of flowers and then breaking it down into bud vases so you can place stems of flowers all around your house instead of in just one place. 

2 - When buying plants, choose ones that flower. I know people who have Christmas Cactus that bloom year after year or orchids that they can get to rebloom. One plant which shares its blooms year after year - that’s a good investment! 

3 - Don’t forget about lavender. Grow lavender in your garden (or like I do, in a pot on my 11th floor balcony). Not only does it flower all summer long, but you can also cut the stems and dry them, to use as a soothing fragrance in your home all year long.

Collaborations 

This year not only am I collaborating on blog posts with my friend Amy, but I will also be presenting a workshop called A HAPPIER, HEALTHIER, YOU - Wellness Through Flowers, at a retreat for educators by Coastal Elements and Magnolia Health and Wellness. 

When planning a collaboration, to be successful, you need to have the right mindset. For me, certain attributes are a must - goodwill to others (delphinium), harmony (cosmos), kindness (bluebell), loyalty (bamboo), patience (aster), and grace (jasmine). 

I hope (snowdrop), this will be the first of many times I will present this workshop. If you are hosting a wellness retreat or seminar and would like to collaborate, please don’t hesitate to contact me - mary@marykelava.com.

To learn more about the specific meanings of flowers, take a look at my award-winning book A BOUQUET OF WORDS - Express Yourself Through the Language of Flowers HERE.

MY FAVOURITE DAY IN FEBRUARY IS FEBRUARY 17

Welcome to February! While the most well known day in February is Valentine’s Day on the 14th, my favourite day in February is the 17th - Random Acts of Kindness Day.

‘Growing in popularity, Random Acts of Kindness Day is celebrated by individuals, groups, and organisations to encourage acts of kindness. Giving flowers on this day to those you know - or a complete stranger - is one way you can participate and makes someone else’s day a little bit brighter.’ (Excerpt from A BOUQUET OF WORDS Express Yourself Through the Language of Flowers.)

There are so many ways you can perform a random act of kindness - but I am going to focus on how you can specifically incorporate flowers into the day. We’ll look at two scenarios - the random act of kindness of giving flowers to someone you know and the random act of kindness of giving flowers to a stranger.

Giving flowers to a friend or family member seems like a very natural thing to do, but usually when we give them it is for a specific reason - a birthday or anniversary, to send get well wishes, in sympathy, in congratulations, or to say thank you. But this February 17, why not choose a friend or family member and give them flowers for not one of the usual reasons, but for an unusual reason - one they won’t be expecting. You could say ‘I admire you’ with carnations (admiration); ‘I love your energy’ with orange tulips (enthusiasm); ‘You’re always so much fun’ with a pink hyacinth (playfulness); or ‘Friends forever’ with a kalanchoe plant (lasting affection).

Giving flowers to someone you don’t know (or don’t know well) doesn’t mean you can’t give flowers with a message, the message would just be more general. You could say ‘Have a nice day’ by giving peonies (happy life); ‘Here’s a little something to brighten your day’ with gerberas (cheerfulness); ‘I wish you well’ with allium (good fortune); or just spread a message of kindness by giving some bluebells (kindness). 

But whatever your message, don’t forget to attach a note to your flowers with the meaning - that’s very important.

A final note - you do not need a big budget to perform Random Acts of Kindness with flowers  on February 17. ‘A single stem, an abundant bouquet, or anything in between can all be successful at sharing your sentiments.’ (Tip from A BOUQUET OF WORDS Express Yourself Through the Language of Flowers.)

I’d love to hear your random acts of kindness ideas. Please share in the comments.

Let’s get the world speaking the language of flowers!

EMBRACE THE NEW YEAR

As the new year approaches, like many other people I am thinking of what I want to accomplish in 2025. These last few days of 2024 are the perfect time to make your plans so you can begin working toward your goals right on January 1. 

I know professionally I have set a few goals for myself. None of them will be easy for me to accomplish, but I am excited to put in the work and see the results. Here are three of my goals:

1 - Get the world speaking the language of flowers

2 - Have the first draft of my second book finished by June 30, 2025

3 - Attend another conference with friends from the ‘writing world’ for continued learning, some good times, and memory-making moments, too!

A suggestion for you starting in January, is to make 2025 a ‘flower-filled’ year. This can include having flowers in your own home, gifting flowers to others, or perhaps starting your very own flower garden (even if that means pots on your patio). (Excerpt from ‘A Bouquet of Words’.)

There are many benefits to having flowers in your life including the mood-boosting impact they have (just a hint to what book #2 will be about!).

So let’s embrace this new year! It’s full of new beginnings (daffodil). Make sure you keep your life balanced (hellebore), and stay dedicated (hyacinth) to obtaining your hopes (snowdrop) and wishes (dandelion).

Wishing you a happy life (peony).

FLOWERS THAT 'SAY (NOT JUST 'SHOW') THANKFULNESS

Canadian Thanksgiving (2nd Monday is October)is quickly approaching , with American Thanksgiving (4th Thursday in November) following not too far behind.

These are the times when we gather with family and friends to acknowledge all we are thankful for in our lives. 

This is also the perfect time to practice the new language you are learning - the language of flowers. 

If you are a guest at someone’s home this year, or you just want to show gratitude to someone for something, here are some of my top suggestions of how you can do this: 

Hostess gift: 

• Anthurium - Hospitality: While anthuriums may not be available as a fresh cut flower where you live at this time of year, you could stop by your local florist or nursery and choose an anthurium plant.

• Sweet pea - Thank you for a lovely time: Again, sweet peas will probably not be available as a cut flower at this time of year, but you can find lovely sweet pea scented soaps that would be a beautiful way to thank your hostess.

Gratitude gift:

• Lisianthus - Appreciation/gratitude, Pink Carnations - gratitude, and Dark Pink Roses - gratitude/thankfulness, should all be readily available during October and November. Either pick one of the flowers or make a mixed bouquet of all three.

And remember - include a little note with your gift that says what the meaning of the flowers are so the recipient understands the language you are speaking. 

*In addition to the above suggestions a copy of A BOUQUET OF WORDS would make a great gift on its own, or in addition with one of the above.

BACK TO SCHOOL - TIME TO LEARN SOMETHING NEW

September always seems like the beginning of the new year to me.

Years spent going to school myself, working as a teacher, and having three children go through the school system, seemed to ingrain in me that ‘September’ not January is the beginning of the year.

Back to school shopping, thinking of ‘noon’ as lunch time, and stopping what I am doing at 3:00 to move on to the next thing, are all habits that I find near impossible to break. 

So in the spirit of back to school time being the beginning of a new year, why not embrace learning something new. 

And why not make that ‘something new’ be learning a new language - the language of flowers. 

The language of flowers - using flowers to create and send messages - is something you can learn, and then apply to make your gifts more personal, your events more memorable, and your gardens more meaningful.

To start you off, here are three flowers that are readily available all year long, with their meanings and a suggestion of when to use it:

1 Anthurium - Hospitality: Give cut flowers or a plant as a hostess gift

2 Chamomile - Energy in adversity: Give a bouquet or a pack of tea to someone going through a difficult time

3 Gerbera - Cheerfulness: A ‘just because’ gift to a friend on a grey, rainy, day

f you would like to learn more about the language of flowers you will find my book:

 A BOUQUET OF WORDS Express Yourself Through the Language of Flowers  a useful reference.

You can also follow along with me on Instagram (@marykelava) as I share new information several times throughout the week

APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY FLOWERS

We have had the April showers, so now it’s time for the May flowers.

Whether you want to treat someone you know well, try and reconnect with someone you haven’t seen for a while, or reach out to someone for the first time, May is filled with many special dates you can use to build connections with others through flowers. 

MARK THESE DATES ON YOUR CALENDAR:

• NATIONAL FLOWER ARRANGING DAY: First Friday (May 3, 2024)

• GREENERY DAY: May 4

• NATIONAL HERB DAY: First Sunday (May 5, 2024)

• IRIS DAY: May 8

• MOTHER’S DAY: Second Sunday (May 12, 2024)

• WATER A FLOWER DAY: May 30

HERE ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR WHAT YOU CAN DO ON THESE DAYS:

NATIONAL FLOWER ARRANGING DAY: Contact your local florist and see if they have any flower arranging workshops scheduled. Or get a group of friends together and book a private event.

GREENERY DAY: Greenery plays an important role in bouquets. It makes them more appealing and gives a feeling of freshness, life and renewal. (In A BOUQUET OF WORDS you can find a list of 10 popular types of greenery and their meanings, as well as the significance each colour has.)

NATIONAL HERB DAY: Give the gift of a fresh herb container garden. (In A BOUQUET OF WORDS you can find a list of 12 flowering herbs and their meanings.) 

IRIS DAY: Iris has the meaning of faith, hope, wisdom. If irises aren’t in bloom where you are on this date, you could send a card to someone with a lovely image of an iris

MOTHER’S DAY: My favourite day of the year! Giving a bouquet of carnations would be a lovely gesture as carnations are the official flower for Mother’s Day (and a pink carnation is especially appropriate as it has the meaning of ‘Mother’s Love’). A bouquet of your mum’s favourite flowers or flowers in her favourite colour would also be great.

WATER A FLOWER DAY: A flowering indoor plant would make a great gift on this day. (In A BOUQUET OF WORDS you can find a list of 10 of the most common flowering houseplants along with their meanings) 

If you are interested in A BOUQUET OF WORDS click HERE for the link to order. I also share a lot of information about the language of flowers on my instagram account @marykelava

HAVE FUN SHARING MAY FLOWERS WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS

Wishing you a great month. Mary x

MARCH NEED TO KNOW NEWS

March is a great month for flowers as all the spring blooms start to arrive. In this month’s blog post I will share with you:

• March’s birth month flower and it’s meaning

• March’s zodiac flowers and their meanings

• March’s flower gift giving days

• March’s national flower dates

I will also answer an FAQ about the language of flowers.

MARCH FLOWER INFORMATION: Birth Month Flower: Daffodil - New beginnings

Zodiac flowers: Pisces (February 19-March 20) Water lily - Purity of heart; Aries (March 21-April 19) Honeysuckle - Pure happiness

March Flower Gift Giving Days: March 8 - International Women’s Day March 31 - Easter

March National Flower Dates: March 3 - National Peach blossom Day (Peach blossom - Generosity) March 12 - Plant a flower day March 21 - National Fragrance Day

FAQ Question: I don’t have a big budget. Am I still able to create meaningful flowers using the language of flowers? Answer: Yes! Part of the beauty of using the language of flowers is that it works equally well for a single flower stem, a small bunch of flowers, a bountiful bouquet, or a grand arrangement.

There is so much to learn about the language of flowers and how you can use it to make gifts more personalised, events more memorable, and gardens more meaningful. My book, A BOUQUET OF WORDS, is packed full of information and will show you a new way to incorporate flowers in your everyday life. 

Click HERE to order A BOUQUET OF WORDS Express Yourself Through the Language of Flowers.

A Great Big THANK YOU!

This is a great big THANK YOU!

The first thing I would like to do is thank each and every one of you who has bought a copy of my book A BOUQUET OF WORDS Express Yourself Through the Language of Flowers.

I have been overwhelmed by the number of people who have placed orders. And from what I can tell, orders have been made in at least six different countries. I never expected that!!!

I would also like to thank all the local Vancouver businesses who have taken a chance and supported me - a first time author - by stocking my book in their shops.

If you live in Vancouver - or are visiting - here are some fantastic local businesses (in alphabetical order) that you can support. In addition to my book, you will find all sorts of other wonderful merchandise. (Click on their names to view their websites.)

Blossom & Vine Floral Co.

Book’mark  The Library Store

Book Warehouse (West Broadway & Main Street locations)

Hager Books

Iron Dog Books

Nicola Adam Florist

Southlands Nursery

The Bloomerie

Coming soon to The Latest Scoop

If you don’t live in Vancouver, but would like to get a copy of A BOUQUET OF WORDS - either for yourself or for a gift - here are a couple of links from where you can purchase the book:

For Canadians: Indigo/Chapters Online

For anywhere you may live in the world: Amazon

Once again - THANK YOU to all of you. Mary x

Using flowers to cope with Blue Monday in January

Did you know the third Monday in January has been named Blue Monday?

What is Blue Monday you may be wondering. It’s a day that is supposedly the most depressing day of the year! (Sounds delightful, doesn’t it???)  

Before you get too worried about it, this is not something factually accurate, it’s a myth that the media created stating that this is the day people are feeling most let down after the holiday season and having eaten too much, spent too much, and have failed at their New Year’s resolutions.

I have no idea why this is something we need to have ‘a day’ dedicated to, but in truth, we should acknowledge that a lot of people do feel a bit down or in low spirits at this time of year. Perhaps for the above reasons, but also due to the shorter, darker days and the colder, wetter weather.

However,  you can counteract a case of the doldrums with something as simple as - you guessed it - flowers! 

It’s almost magical the way flowers make us feel better. Their colour, fragrance and freshness make an impact on us without us even realizing it. 

Here are my top 5 suggestions on how to use flowers to boost your mood:

1 - Have a small bunch of brightly coloured blooms on your bedside table.  When you see flowers first thing in the morning they give you an instant mood boost. Not only that, but that initial boost will make you feel happier and more energetic throughout the day.

2 - Have a vase of fresh flowers in the kitchen. A communal spot like the kitchen is a great place to have flowers so everyone in the family can enjoy them.

3 - Have flowers on your desk at work. Even a bud vase with one stem of flower will give you a cheerful pick-me-up every time you glance at it throughout the day. Research also shows that having fresh flowers at work can increase your productivity.

4 - Give a bouquet to someone. Giving someone flowers not only has a positive impact on the receiver but also on the one who gives them. This is such a great way to brighten someone else’s day as well as your own. 

5 - Choose flowers in your favourite colour for an extra boost. Flowers in a colour you love makes them extra special and will have an even bigger mood-boosting impact.

Having fresh flowers around you every day is a small step you can take to create a positive and uplifting environment for yourself, and those around you. 

Top tip: You do not have to have a big bouquet to reap the positive benefits of flowers. Consider buying one bouquet and dividing it into several vases, thus making your ‘flower dollars’ go further.

Bonus information: Because we are talking about Blue Monday, I want to share some information with you about blue flowers.

Only 10% of flowers come in the colour blue – that makes them the rarest of colours to find. But they do exist, so don’t buy any that are fake or dyed. ‘True blue’ flowers are definitely the only way to go. 

Blues can range in shades from soft and pale to rich and vibrant. What you choose, and what you pair it with can create an impact ranging from a peaceful calm, to a sophisticated elegance. 

Some of my favourite blue flowers are cornflower, tweedia, nigella, hydrangea and delphinium.  If you are unfamiliar with any of these, have a chat with your local florist who should be able to help you, or please message me with any questions. I’d also love to know your favourite blue flower.

There is so much to learn about flowers. My book, A BOUQUET OF WORDS, is packed full of information and will show you a new way to incorporate flowers in your everyday life. 

Click HERE to order A BOUQUET OF WORDS Express Yourself Through the Language of Flowers

It's National 'What' Day?

It’s been a while since I have done a blog post. I’ve had lots going on with the release of my book A BOUQUET OF WORDS Express Yourself Through the Language of Flowers. 

Everything about writing and publishing a book has been a new experience for me. I’ve learned so much including that once the book is written and published the work is not done. Now it’s time for marketing! (I’m working on that.)

What I want to share with you today is some upcoming dates that you might find interesting. 

It’s all the rage nowadays to have ‘National Days’. You can find days for everything from ‘National Creative Ice Cream Flavours Day’ (July 1st), ‘National Pet Rock Day’ (September 1), to ‘National Joy Day’ -  which isn’t about being joyful, but about celebrating everyone with the name ‘Joy’ (December 7)!

It’s no different when it comes to flowers. Several have their own ‘National’ day.

There are three in the upcoming months. These are great days to share flowers with others and introduce them to the language of flowers. In November and December you have:

November 10: National Forget-me-not Day

Forget-me-not - Remembrance

While forget-me-nots are not in bloom at this time of year, you could find a card with an image of these delicate blue flowers and send them to someone to let them know you are thinking of them.

December 12:National Poinsettia Day

Poinsettia - Good cheer

If you are attending a holiday party, a poinsettia with its meaning of ‘good cheer’ makes the perfect hostess gift.

December 19: National Holly Day

Holly - Domestic happiness 

Do you know anyone getting married or moving into a new home? Giving a bunch of holly would be a wonderful symbolic gesture

In A Bouquet of Words you will find a calendar of ‘National Flower Days’ throughout the year. 

(I guess I squeezed in a bit of marketing with that last sentence 🙂.)

Click HERE to order A BOUQUET OF WORDS Express Yourself Through the Language of Flowers

7 Reasons Why Flowers Make the Perfect Gift

Throughout history and across all cultures, flowers have been given as gifts. In fact around the world, one of the most popular gifts to give is flowers. The reasons why:

1 - Flowers suit every occasion. I can’t think of anything else versatile enough to say ‘happy birthday’, 'congratulations', ‘thank you’, ‘I’m sorry’, ‘get well soon’, or even just ‘I’m thinking of you’.

2 - Flowers are available in a wide price range so they suit every budget. If an abundant bouquet is out of your price range, a small posy or single stem also lets someone know you are thinking of them.

3 - You can plan your gift of flowers in advance, or arrange on short notice. Florists will take orders weeks - even months - in advance, but you can also pop into your local flower shop, grocer, or corner store to pick up a premade bouquet for a last minute gift.

4 - You can arrange for flower delivery anywhere in the world. You could use a company like Teleflora, but when possible I prefer to deal directly with a florist local to the area.

5 - Flowers are appropriate for someone you know well, or someone you’ve never met before. You can choose someone’s favourite flowers when you know their preferences, but equally as nice is to just choose a bouquet to surprise someone with.

6 - The wide variety of flowers available and the different ways they can be presented, means every floral gift can be unique. You could go as simple and classic as a single stem of red rose, a beautifully wrapped mixed bouquet of seasonal flowers, an elaborate tabletop arrangement, or anything (and everything) in between. 

7 - Flowers have been scientifically proven to lift people’s spirits. Perhaps the best reason of all why flowers make the perfect gift!