July 3, 2018
“Just living is not enough….one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.” – Hans Christian Anderson
I thought this was a good quote as we celebrate our freedom on July 4th, and we certainly have been experiencing a lot of sunshine! The flowers in the field are enjoying the heat and sunshine. It is so wonderful to walk out into the field and be greeted with splashes of color where it was just green a few weeks ago.
One flower in particular has been a real worker for me…….yarrow. This lovely perennial continues to produce beautiful, airy blossoms and it releases a delicate herbal perfume. The plant is also an amazing medicinal herb with great healing properties. As you know from previous letters, in the Language of Flowers yarrow represents Healing and Everlasting Love. According to folklore, if one places yarrow under your pillow and recites the following poem, you will have a vision of your future partner!
‘Thou pretty herb of Venus’ tree,
Thy true name it is Yarrow;
Now who my bosom friend must be,
Pray tell thou me to-morrow’. –Halliwell’s Popular Rhymes
Following are the meanings for this week’s flowers. Once again, your bouquet will contain some but not all of the flowers in the list. To extend the vase life of your flowers, change the water every day or two and trim the stems by ¼” every 2 to three days.
Bachelor Buttons – Single blessedness
Bells of Ireland – Good luck
Celosia – Affection, foppery
Cerinthe (Borage family) – Courage, bluntness
Cosmos – Joy in love or life
Hydrangea – Heartlessness, a boaster
Rudbeckia (Black-eyed Susan) – Justice
Snapdragons – Presumption
Sunflowers – Admiration, gratitude
Yarrow – Healing/Everlasting love
Zinnias – Thoughts of absent friends
Enjoy the sunshine, your freedom and your flowers!
Gratefully,
Betsy