Meaningful Flowers for February Birthdays

Do you know someone with a birthday in February? Are you planning on giving them some flowers? An easy way to make your gift extra special is to create a meaningful message with your choice of flowers.

With knowing just a few things, your floral gift can be personalized specifically for someone with a February birthday.

Birth month flower:

There are two birth month flowers for February. Neither are used in bouquets, but both are widely available in plant form.

Violet: Violets signify loyalty and faithfulness. Giving an African violet plant is a way to say, “I’ll always be here for you.”

Primrose: The most popular meaning for primrose is “I can’t live without you’. 

Zodiac:

Every zodiac sign has a flower that represents it. 

Aquarius: January 20 - February 18: Your flower is the orchid.  The meaning for orchid is ‘refined beauty’. You could add cut orchid stems to a mixed bouquet, or buy an orchid plant.

Pisces: February 19 - March 20: Your flower is the water lily. The meaning for water lilies is ‘purity of heart’. Fresh water lilies would be difficult to give as a gift, but perhaps you could incorporate it into your message by giving a card with a water lily on it.

Colour:

Pink and red are big colours for the month for February, because of Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day. I have two other colour choices to recommend:

Purple: The birthstone for February is amethyst. Purple flowers would be a great way to represent it.

Yellow: February is a rather dreary month. Yellow flowers are cheerful and would brighten any room.

BONUS: Purple and yellow work well together is a mixed bouquet.

Seasonal:

February is abundant with flowers that are available all year long, as well as early spring flowers that are just starting to make an appearance. Some to consider:

Lilies, alstroemerias, gerberas, lisianthus, ranunculus, roses, carnations, chrysanthemums, snapdragons, iris, daffodils, and tulips.

Personal touch:

Consider the person you are giving the flowers to. Try adding into your bouquet, flowers in their favourite variety or favourite colour. 

Top tip:

You don’t need to include all these options. Pick what works best for the message you want to send, and you’ll have created a unique and meaningful gift for that lucky February birthday person. 

Suggestion:

If I were to give flowers to a friend with a birthday in February, my bouquet would include:

• Purple alstroemeria: Purple to represent February’s birthstone and alstroemeria for it’s meaning of ‘friendship’.

• Yellow gerberas: Yellow is a cheerful colour and the meaning for gerberas is also ‘cheerful’.

• White tulips: Tulips are just coming into season and white represents ‘honour’ - an important quality in a friendship.
  

Purple Flowers

Having flowers in your environment enhances your surroundings. The colour of the flowers you choose plays a big role in what mood you create and what emotions you evoke. It’s time to explore the effect purple flowers can have on your day.

Purple is one of the most popular colour choices for flowers. Its shades range from pale mauve, to vibrant violet, to deep wine.

When you think of paler shades of purple flowers, think of lavender, lilac and heather. They ‘re calm and soothing, symbolizing charm, grace and elegance.

The darker shades of purple have always been tied to royalty and ceremony, symbolizing dignity, pride and success. They also create a feeling of mystery and enchantment.

Let’s take a look at purple flowers throughout the seasons:

Winter: One of the first pops of floral colour in winter is when the crocus bursts through the cold, icy ground, a bright little spot in an otherwise grey environment. But crocus aren’t the only purple flowers you can find at this time of year. Waxflower, with their tiny purple blooms on long stems, are great as a filler in an arrangement or in a big vase just on their own. You can also turn to flowering houseplants and get a splash of purple from cyclamens with their stacked layers of petals, or with that old stand-by, the African violet.

Spring: Spring arrives and purple flowers start to arrive in abundance. The deep purple anemone is a good representative for this season as it’s meaning is anticipation – and aren’t we all waiting for days to get longer and warmer! Verbena, campanula, hyacinth, columbine, and lilac are just a few varieties you’ll find.

Summer: This is when purple flowers arrive in abundance. Lavender, sweet peas, allium, foxglove, gladiola, lupines, lisianthus, hydrangea, morning glory, hollyhock, zinnia … the list goes on and on. You’ll be spoiled for choice.

Fall: As the days get shorter and colder, don’t despair. You can still find purple flowers to add a little bright spot to your day. Asters, cosmos and pansies are especially beautiful. Put a vase in the centre of your table to be seen by all who enter your home.

Throughout the year keep your eye open for what’s in season in your area, and make the most of their purple beauty both inside and outside your home.

PS: My favourite purple flowers are lilacs, lavender, and sweet peas. What are yours?

Falling in Love with Violets

Every month has a “birth month flower” associated with it. 

February is dominated by one day - Valentine’s Day. And what flower do you automatically think of when you think of Valentine’s Day? The red rose. So naturally you would assume that the flower for the month of February is the red rose; but you would be wrong. The flower for the month of February is the very dainty, pretty, and unassuming violet.

The more I learn about violets, the more I love them. Their delicate beauty and vibrant hues catch your eye, and then capture your heart.

Violets have a delicate sweet scent that has long been used in making perfume. Once popular (it was a favourite of Queen Victoria), over time it came to be thought of as an old-fashioned fragrance. But these days, fragrance houses are finding ways to modernize violet by mixing it with other scents. I’m very much looking forward to going to Jo Malone’s in London and trying their Violet and Amber creation.

Violets are very rare to find as a cut flower. In 2018, there was only one remaining commercial violet farm in the US. If we want to have violets in our homes, we need to be satisfied with the African violet house plant. This plant is very popular, widely available, easy to care for, and makes a lovely gift for just about any occasion. Here are some suggestions:

• Since the violet is the flower for February, it’s a great gift for someone with a February birthday;

• Violets are one of the two official flowers to celebrate a 50th wedding anniversary;

• Violets represent faithfulness because of the way the plant faithfully blooms. You could give this plant to anyone to whom you want to say, ‘I’m always there for you’;

• Violets, with their heart-shaped leaves, also represent love, making it a great gift for Valentine’s Day;

• And finally, because of the size of the plant, they make the perfect gift for someone in a hospital or care facility, someone living in a dorm or other small space, or for someone to put on their desk at work.

While I’m not much of a “plant person”, I do want to have these cheery little flowers in my home, so I’m off to the store to buy one - or maybe two - of these delightful bundles of blooms.