Top flower choices for Mother's Day

Mother's Day will be here before you know it. If you've been rushing around trying to think about what to get the woman who you literally owe your life to, you're not alone. In fact, moms tend to be some of the pickiest people around, which is why it might be best to stick to an equation that always works - sending gorgeous flowers.

If you really want to let Mom know how much she means to you this year, then you'll need to learn the optimal flowers, color schemes and more that will prove that you think she's a star. Here's a list of choices she's sure to be impressed with:

Pretty in pink
Mothers are the ultimate ladies, meaning pink blooms this Mother's Day are sure to fit the bill. According to the Cedar County Republican, many gorgeous flowers come in shades of pink so you have ample options to choose from.
Some of the most popular pink blossoms include traditional roses, peonies (which are in season currently) and gorgeous hybrid orchids.
Garden Guides website reports peonies represent happiness, life, prosperity and good fortune, making a collection of these flowers a great choice for Mom. Plus, the pretty flowers boast a fresh fragrance that is as lovely as their appearance.

Embrace elegance
It's not often that Mom gets to enjoy having a day all to herself, so why not help her feel like a queen this May 12? The Cedar County Republic suggests sending your mom a gorgeous arrangement of orchids to help make her day more regal than ever.
Cymbidium orchids might be the way to go since this variety is beautiful and more importantly, long-lasting. Some people might assume that due to their delicate nature, orchids are hard to care for. However, they simply require watering every 5 days or so and moderate sunlight to thrive.

Celebrate Mom Bouquet

Know what to look for with online shopping
If you know you won't have time to head to the local florist before Mother's Day, sending your mom a gorgeous bouquet for Mother's Day through sites like Teleflora.com is the best option. A great feature of online florists is that you're able to select a set of flowers you like and the vase they'll arrive in - a one-stop shopping experience.
Selecting a gorgeous collection and an equally stunning vase will not only make your life easier, it will also ensure Mom doesn't have to do anything like search for a storage container for the flowers when they arrive on her special day.

www.color4love.com – Flowers and gifts for Mothers Day

How to Wrap a Bouquet of Flowers

It's always best to wrap a hand-tied bouquet before you give it to someone as a gift. The wrapping paper helps to protect delicate petals in transit, and a well-wrapped bouquet makes a much more pleasing present.

Choose wrapping paper, cellophane or simple brown paper and ribbon that matches the style, shape, size and predominant color of your bouquet.

Materials Needed:

• wrapping paper
• cellophane or brown paper
• ribbon

• clear tape
• hand-tied bouquet

 

 

 

Prepare the Paper

Fold the wrapping paper in half at a slight angle. Place the bouquet of flowers on top of the paper so the binding point rests on the folded edge of the paper. You may choose to have the pattern on the inside, as shown here, or keep the pattern on the outside, for a livelier look.

+

Wrap the Paper

Fold one half of the wrapping paper carefully over the front of the flowers so the folded edge of the paper aligns with the outer edge of the bouquet.

+

Enclose the Flowers

Roll the bouquet up inside the rest of the paper, or fold the other half of the paper over the bouquet — whichever feels easier. Once the flowers are enclosed in the cone shape created by the paper, seal both sides of paper together with a small piece of clear tape.

www.color4love.com – Everything to color your love

Ribbon Flower Tutorial

Rib­bon Flower Tuto­r­ial
By Lisa M. Pace

1. Cut rib­bon approx­i­mately 12 inches
2. Start­ing at one end of your rib­bon weave your threaded nee­dle in and out of the rib­bon as shown (I thread my nee­dle with the thread still on the spool. This way I don’t have to worry about not hav­ing my thread long enough or my rib­bon com­ing off of the thread)

3. Con­tinue weav­ing your threaded nee­dle all the way to the end of the ribbon

4. Once you are to the end of the rib­bon pull the thread through the rib­bon to make it gather

5. Cut thread mak­ing sure to leave enough thread for you to tie a dou­ble knot
6. Gather your rib­bon as tight as possible

7. Dou­ble knot your thread
8. Glue the cut ends of your rib­bon together mak­ing sure the glued ends point to the under­side of the rib­bon flower

9. Once the glue has dried flat­ten out your flower

10. Adhere your but­ton to the cen­ter of the flower (in my exam­ple I used two and placed one on top of the other) using a hot glue gun

Have fun! The pos­si­bil­i­ties for these flow­ers are endless.

www.color4love.com– Everything to color your love

Carnation

*All members of the genus Dianthus including the florists's carnation are called pinks. 

Blooms: summer. (But January in English Floral Calendar)

Victorian Language:

General: Affection, health & energy. 
Pink: Mother's Love, or I'll never forget you
Red: Admiration, my heart is aching
Solid colored: Yes, acceptance
Striped: Refusal, no, I can't be with you
White: Pure love, innocence, good-luck gift to a woman.
Yellow: Rejection, disdain
Purple: antipathy, capriciousness

Emblem:

Mother's Day (1907)
Parents Day & Teachers' Day in Korea
National flower of Spain 
State flower of Ohio (scarlet carnation)
Fraternities/Sororities :
(White carnation): Delta Chi, Delta Sigma Phi, Phi Beta Sigma, and Zeta Psi, Chi Omega.
(Red Carnations): Alpha Chi Omega, Sigma Lambda Beta, Phi Kappa Tau, Tau Kappa Epsilon, Theta Chi, Eta Phi Beta, Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Fraternity for College Band members, Alpha Chi Sigma the national professional chemistry fraternity. 
(Rose Carnations): Phi Mu
(Pink carnation) Gamma Phi Beta 
(Green carnation): St. Patrick's Day/ homosexuality.

Mythology/Folklore:

Christian legend tells us that when Mary saw Jesus carrying the cross, she began to cry, and where her tears fell, carnations began to grow. Perhaps because of this legend, the pink carnation became a symbol of a mother's love.

In Korea, carnations were used to tell fortunes. A girl placed a cluster of three blossoms in her hair. If the top one died first, this signified that her last years would be difficult. If the middle one died first, the earlier years would be hard. If the bottom flower died first, superstition held that her entire life would be miserable. 

History/Modern uses:

Pinks were called the flower of flowers in ancient Greece, and the genus name means 'divine flower' because of its fragrance and beauty. It was called Flos Jovs, or Jove (Jupiter or Zeus in Greek)'s flower, in Rome.

The earliest mention of carnations was in connection with theCrusaders, who were stricken with the plague near Tunis in the 13th century. They drank wine mixed with leaves of the pinks to help control the raging fevers, and took the flower back to France. 

During the Renaissance, pinks were associated with happiness and carefree days, and because of this, they were used to “combat melancholy and cheer the heart” according to an ancient herbal.

In England, Pinks were thought to be favorite flower of William the Conqueror, Edward III, Charles II, and George V. 

At Oxford University, carnations are traditionally worn to all examinations; white for the first exam, pink for exams in between and a red for the last exam

Green carnations were famously worn by the Irish writer Oscar Wilde.The green carnation thence became a symbol of homosexuality in the early 20th century.

In France, it is a traditional funeral flower, given in condolence for the death of a loved one. Therefore in France and Francophone culture, the carnation symbolizes misfortune and bad luck.

In 1907 Anna Jarvis chose a carnation as the emblem of Mother's Day because it was the favorite flower of her mother.This tradition is now observed in the United States and Canada on the second Sunday in May. Ann Jarvis chose the white carnation because she wanted to represent the purity of a mother's love. This meaning has evolved over time, and now a red carnation may be worn if one's mother is alive, and a white one if she has died.

The scarlet carnation became the state flower of Ohio in honor of William McKinley, Ohio Governor and U.S. President, who was assassinated in 1901. He regularly wore a scarlet carnation on his lapel.

In Korea, it is not uncommon to see Parents who wear a corsage of red or pink carnations on Parents Day (May 8) or teachers on Teacher's Day (May 15).

Most aren't aware that carnation petals are edible and quite sweet. For 400 years, well into the 18th century, carnations were used to flavor beer, ale, and wine, are still used to make the French liqueur Chartreuse. Tavern keepers would sometimes grow this plant in their own gardens and called in sops-in-wine.

www.color4love.com– Everything to color your love