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 …
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.
Five Things to Know About January's Flower
Every month has a specific flower assigned to it – it’s ‘birth month flower’.
January can be a gloomy month. The festivities of the holiday season are over, yet the lightness of spring hasn’t arrived. Thank goodness we have flowers to boost our mood, and nothing does a better job than…
Every month has a specific flower assigned to it – it’s ‘birth month flower’.
January can be a gloomy month. The festivities of the holiday season are over, yet the lightness of spring hasn’t arrived. Thank goodness we have flowers to boost our mood, and nothing does a better job than January’s birth month flower – the carnation.
The carnation is a very under- appreciated flower. Once a prized favourite among elite society, it seems nowadays carnations have well and truly fallen out of favour. They’ve gained a reputation for being old-fashioned, common and unrefined. I know my own memories growing up are of red, white or pink bunches of blooms, wrapped in a skimpy piece of cellophane being sold at the local corner store or gas station. But that’s not the carnation of today! The carnation is no longer a pedestrian flower and here are five reasons why it should become one of your go-to favourites:
Growers have been, and still are, cultivating and producing new varieties of carnations that are real show-stoppers! The new editions come in a wide spectrum of colours and hues that are vibrant and trendy;
With their pretty petal formation, carnations are soft and feminine and have a fragrance that is spicy and sweet, yet oh-so subtle;
With all the ruffled petals the carnation looks dainty, but it’s reliable, tough and long lasting. In fact it has one of the longest vase lives of any flower on the market;
The carnation is filled with symbolism. The symbolism is quite extensive as different colours symbolize different emotions, but overall the carnation stands for devotion. As well as being the birth flower for the month of January, it’s the flower for first anniversaries and the national flower for Monaco, Slovenia and Spain;
Carnations are affordable, and affordable is never a bad thing! Added bonus - they’re available all year round.
I hope this helps you look at carnations differently, and as January is a great time for new beginnings, how about making this the year you start your love of carnations. Let me know your thoughts. I’d love to hear what you have to say.
Quick Tip: If you know someone who’s birthday is in January, or someone who is celebrating their first anniversary this year, personalize their gift by incorporating carnations into it, making it that extra little bit special.
A Lesson to Learn from November's Flower
Every month has a flower associated with it, known as its “birth month flower”.
November can be cold, grey, and wet. The days are short and the nights are long. With all the dreariness around, people’s spirits can get low. Not only will flowers help lift your mood but there’s a specific flower during this time of year that
Every month has a flower associated with it, known as its “birth month flower”.
November can be cold, grey, and wet. The days are short and the nights are long. With all the dreariness around, people’s spirits can get low. Not only will flowers help lift your mood but there’s a specific flower during this time of year that we can learn a lesson from. And that’s the chrysanthemum -’November’s flower’!
When most flowers have faded away at the end of the warm, beautiful, summer months, autumn comes and the chrysanthemum bursts into bloom in golds, reds, yellows, pinks, purples, burgundy, white and even neon green. With their splashes of colour in an otherwise drab, barren landscape, they symbolize joy, cheerfulness and optimism.
The lesson to be learned? When all around us seems bleak and dismal, let us be the one to shine bright and bring joy to others.
Here’s three ways to use flowers to spread a bit of joy:
1 – Place a small vase of flowers on your desk at work. Not only are the flowers brightening your work environment, but they’ll also brighten the moods of everyone who sees them.
2 – Place a vase of flowers in the middle of the kitchen table. Research shows that having flowers on the table sets a welcoming, relaxing environment. Family and friends will sit at the table longer chatting and enjoying each other’s company.
3 - Give a small posy of flowers to someone. Science has proven that giving flowers will brighten the mood of not only the receiver but also the giver! You’ll both have smiles on your faces.
So pop out today, pick up a few stems of flowers and add a bit of cheer to this rainy November day.