Flowers have to be the most universal gift in the entire world. They can come straight from the backyard, be bought freshly cut, as a plant in a decorative terra cotta pot, or offered as seeds that will grow into miniature indoor gardens. Some bouquets are mimicked in plastic, silk, paper, clay, metal, fabric or various other materials and can be mass produced. This way they are affordable and last longer than the real ones. In some cultures they can be made with food or ‘are’ the food, while in others they are dried and kept as potpourri. They can be chiseled in ice or even be drawn on a piece of paper and still trigger a few tears of joy.
Try to imagine a world without flowers. Unless you are allergic to pollen or any other plant parts, it probably would be pretty bland. Even if you are able to pull up such a vision, you may forget you have wallpaper or drapery with a petite flower design, a dress with a hyacinth appliqué, stationary with a rosebud border, or a coffee mug with a daisy trim.
What do you take to the hospital when you visit a sick friend? When your sister has a baby you give her a gift for the newborn, but probably will also hand the new mom a beautiful bouquet as well. According to statistics, florists have the highest sales on Valentine’s Day and the wedding season is not idling much behind. That tells you that flowers represent the universal language of love, a sentiment we gladly share with mothers, siblings, partners and good friends.
Luscious royal gardens open their doors to the public and show off their splendor, while a few streets down one single white lily is placed on a coffin. The Japanese people rejoice spring with cherry blossom viewings, while tulip festivals all over the world may represent a celebration of Dutch heritage. Blooms are infused with symbolism and show up in every possible form of art, from accentuating silver candleholders to carvings in ceilings. They can be found on futuristic sculpture, fill up posters and prints, be a dream-like detail on a canvas, or be the painting itself.
Under the spell of flower mania, an intoxicating aroma sweeps us of our feet. We know that every feeling that drives us is represented by a specific bloom. Their colors stand for admiration, youth, innocence, joy and so much more. Spiced with distinctive characteristics and rich mythology, flowers illustrate sorrow, remorse, appreciation, and can even say thank-you in “pretty pink”. They give our heart away in “red” and drape themselves in mystery. There is no doubt about it: flowers are irresistible and we just cannot live without them.
