The Language of Flowers reveals the deeper meanings of flowers in type and color. In ancient days, courtship often included hidden messages shared in the color of a flower left upon a lady’s doorstep, or in the type of flowers included in a bouquet. If the lady was interested, she might carry a certain color of flower as she strolled through the gardens. Her suitor would then know, just by looking at the flower in her hand or her hair, if she was smitten…or not.

The bygone era’s symbols are still with us today, and many gardeners choose their plants according to the meanings they hold, opting for positive messages like love, abundance, and loyalty, and avoiding those flowers that connote envy, lost love, hopelessness, and hatred.

As you plan your rose garden, keep in mind the following messages conveyed by different rose colors, so that your home can be surrounded by uplifting symbolism:

Red roses: Romantic love, passion, respect
White roses: Purity, innocence, humility, gentility, young love, ‘I Love You’
Yellow roses: Friendship, joy, caring, gladness, affection – not jealousy anymore, as was the message in the Victorian era.
Pink roses: Femininity, gentility, admiration, happiness, refinement, elegance, gratitude
Orange roses: Enthusiasm, desire, passion
Purple roses: Desire, enchantment, love at first sight

The tea rose carries a symbol of ‘I’ll remember you always,’ and as such, the tea rose has become a popular choice for remembrances and wedding-day tributes to departed relatives and friends.

Sharon Naylor is the author of over 35 books on family celebrations, including weddings, bridal showers, vow renewals, and more. She is beyond thrilled to be the new guest blogger for The Farm, and she will be posting inspirations and tips for your parties, get-togethers and big family moments throughout the year. Visit her website www.sharonnaylor.net for more on her books and articles.

Bright, cheery zinnia bloom from mid-summer all the way to winter, and come in a wide variety of colors including yellow, orange, red, rose, pink, purple, lilac and multi-colored blooms. Zinnia elegans is considered the most popular of the 20 species, and likes a hot climate due to its Mexican origins.

The pretty variations of Zinnia varieties provide both miniature plants and those that may grow to 1-3 feet tall, and you’ll find those that bloom in single rows or domes.

Interesting facts about Zinnia:

• Butterflies love them, so outdoor-planted zinnia will fill your gardens with winged beauty.
• In its native Mexico, the plant was known by the name mal de ojos, because the flowers were small and considered ugly.
• Zinnias originally grew as wildflowers native to the southwest United States, Mexico and Central America.
• They will reseed themselves each year.
• In The Language of Flowers, Zinnia symbolize ‘thoughts of absent friends.’

Sharon Naylor is the author of over 35 books on family celebrations, including weddings, bridal showers, vow renewals, and more. She is beyond thrilled to be the new guest blogger for The Farm, and she will be posting inspirations and tips for your parties, get-togethers and big family moments throughout the year. Visit her website www.sharonnaylor.net for more on her books and articles.

Colorful, delicate peonies are among the most feminine of flowers and as such are a favorite of springtime brides, as well as popular flowers for Mother’s Day. These flowers have been around for centuries, cultivated in China for more than 2,000 years and cultivated in American gardens for more than 600 years. They were named in honor of Paeon, the physician of the gods, since ancient societies used the roots for medicine as well as food.

There are more than 30 species of Peonies, including some woody shrubs, and they produce large, fragrant red, white or yellow flowers that bloom in late spring and early summer. Peonies are known as hardy plants that require little care, and when planted will return year after year, often surviving harsh winters.

As an ancient-origin flower, Peonies have been known as a symbol of wealth, luck and happiness, as well as a symbol of elegance and poise, again calling to mind their perfection as a wedding or ladies’ gift flowering plant.

Interesting facts about Peonies:

• Peonies are also known as ‘Flower Fairy’ or ‘King of Flower’ in their native China.
• The Roman legions first brought Peonies to England in about year 1200.
• Peonies are known as the national flower of China.
• In Chinese art, peonies are symbolic as the ‘flower of riches and honor.’
• If grown in the sun, leaves of Peonies turn from green to burgundy in just one week.
• Peonies’ large, fragrant blossoms make excellent cut flowers, and the foliage is often used as attractive filler in floral arrangements and centerpieces.
• The word ‘paean’ means ‘a hymn of praise,’ originally meant to the god Apollo.
• If left undisturbed, peonies can live for hundreds of years.

Sharon Naylor is the author of over 35 books on family celebrations, including weddings, bridal showers, vow renewals, and more. She is beyond thrilled to be the new guest blogger for The Farm, and she will be posting inspirations and tips for your parties, get-togethers and big family moments throughout the year. Visit her website www.sharonnaylor.net for more on her books and articles.

Sweet peas are a favorite of home gardeners, and as a pretty potted plant, because of their lovely and unique fragrance. They were discovered by a Franciscan monk in Sicily, who in 1699 sent seeds to a botanist who grew them first in a hothouse and then outdoors, and eventually Thomas Jefferson added sweet peas to his own garden plantings. So this pretty flower has a unique history.

Sweet Peas are an annual climbing plant, which grow to a height of several feet, needing support to thrive, and they bloom in lavender, pink, purple, red, white, and yellow, among other hues. The bright colors of the sweet peas make them a springtime favorite.

Botanists and garden enthusiasts talk often about the captivating scent of sweet peas, finding a tremendous amount of variations according to the age of the flower, sunlight, rain and temperatures. Older varieties of Sweet Peas are said to be the most fragrant, but it’s always the best measure for you to test the scent of potential Sweet Pea plants for yourself.

Interesting facts about Sweet Peas:

• There are 110 species and countless cultivars.
• In recent years, New Zealand has also been a source of new Sweet Pea varieties, especially in the development of new color patterns, many striped varieties, short day flowering, with a focus on fragrance.
• The yellow sweet pea remains elusive to botanists; a true yellow is unlikely ever to be achieved without genetic engineering.
• English gardeners call Sweet Peas the “Queen of Annuals.”
• Sweet peas have been cultivated since the 17th century.
• The flowers and seeds of the sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus) are poisonous, and should not be eaten.

Sharon Naylor is the author of over 35 books on family celebrations, including weddings, bridal showers, vow renewals, and more. She is beyond thrilled to be the new guest blogger for The Farm, and she will be posting inspirations and tips for your parties, get-togethers and big family moments throughout the year. Visit her website www.sharonnaylor.net for more on her books and articles.

Freesia are known for being one of the most fragrant of the springtime flowers, and as such the freesia scent is used in many perfumes and aromatherapy products. Most often found in the colors of white, golden yellow, orange, pink, red, mauve, lavender, purple and bi-colors, Freesia is a genus of about 14 species, all African in origin.

Grown from bulbs, Freesia grow in a branched stem with long narrow, sword-shaped leaves, with narrow, funnel-shaped flowers growing alongside some of the plants’ leaves, Some of the top varieties of Freesia include: Athene, Allure, Demeter, Excelsior, Golden Wave, Mirabel, Pink Westlind, Snowdon, and Welkin. This plant grows to about 1 foot high and produces up to 8 blooms as a cluster at the top of the stalk. The modest height makes this a popular potted plant for décor or gifting.

Interesting fact about Freesia:

• In the Language of Flowers, Freesia are symbolic of innocence and friendship.
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• Freesia are the traditional flower of the 7th wedding anniversary.
• The pink and red varieties are the most highly-scented.
• One of the most popular varieties is called Ballerina.

Sharon Naylor is the author of over 35 books on family celebrations, including weddings, bridal showers, vow renewals, and more. She is beyond thrilled to be the new guest blogger for The Farm, and she will be posting inspirations and tips for your parties, get-togethers and big family moments throughout the year. Visit her website www.sharonnaylor.net for more on her books and articles.

Pronounced (a-neh-mon-ee), this flower derives its name from the Greek word meaning wind, which has earned the Anemone the nickname of ‘wind flower.’ The genus consists of over 120 species of annual flowering plants, many of which grow wild in North America, Europe and Japan.

The elongated flower of the Anemone usually bears one or several flowers in white, red, blue and sometimes yellow flowers. Some varieties produce cup-shaped yellow, purple, or red Anemone flowers.

Japanese Anemone are among the most popular variety of this bloom, producing flowers in autumn.

Yellow wood Anemone, also known as the Buttercup Anemone, produces moderately smaller flowers in a rich yellow color.

With so many varieties of Anemone to choose from, it’s important to learn the three main types of this flower:

• Spring-flowering Anemone, growing from rhizomes or tubers
• Tuberous Mediterranean, which flowers in spring and summer.
• Larger fall-flowering Anemone, blooming in late summer to fall.

Since the Anemone produces flowers for such a long growing time throughout the year, and with over 120 varieties to choose from, this is one flower that can beautify your home in potted variety now, or be included in your bulb-planting routines later this year.

Sharon Naylor is the author of over 35 books on family celebrations, including weddings, bridal showers, vow renewals, and more. She is beyond thrilled to be the new guest blogger for The Farm, and she will be posting inspirations and tips for your parties, get-togethers and big family moments throughout the year. Visit her website www.sharonnaylor.net for more on her books and articles.

The colorful, showy Amaryllis is a monotypic genus, meaning it consists of only one species. Amaryllis belladonna, as a bright flower, has been given the symbolic meaning in the Language of Flowers as ‘splendid beauty’ or ‘pride.’

The Amaryllis blooms 2-5 large flowers at the apex of tall stems, with 4” or larger diameter flowers – some may reach 6” across — and multiple petals creating a dramatic and attractive flower. If you’d like to make a great impression when going to a family celebration in springtime, or if you’re hosting a spring family special occasion, the Amaryllis impresses.

Interesting facts About Amaryllis:

• Amaryllis is native of South and Central America and the Caribbean.
• Amaryllis is a perennial flowering plant.
• The plant’s nickname of “naked lady” stems from the plant’s pattern of flowering when the foliage has died down
• The plant is also sometimes known as the “Jersey Lily”

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Sharon Naylor is the author of over 35 books on family celebrations, including weddings, bridal showers, vow renewals, and more. She is beyond thrilled to be the new guest blogger for The Farm, and she will be posting inspirations and tips for your parties, get-togethers and big family moments throughout the year. Visit her website www.sharonnaylor.net for more on her books and articles.

Daffodils, Crocus, Hyacinth, Tulips…you know them well, and they may be among your favorite springtime flowers. Now that spring is fully upon us, expand your spring flower horizons to appreciate the many additional blooms that bring beauty to your gardens and as potted flowers fresh and pretty springtime color indoors.

Today starts my new series on the loveliest of spring flowers that you might not have gotten to know (yet!) Don’t fear that it’s too late if you haven’t gotten these bulbs into the ground last fall, or that you’ll have to wait a year to grow them. Potted spring blooms are living things of beauty available at The Farm, ready to freshen your spring flower repertoire.

Agapanthus is commonly known as Lily of the Nile, African Blue Lily and African Lily, and the name is derived from the Greek word agap, meaning Love. The genus includes about 10 different species and the blooms appear as large clusters of white, blue or violet-blue flowers on tall stems.

Interesting facts about Agapanthus:

• They grow in the shade.
• They bloom from late spring until the beginning of autumn, depending on the species.
• The Africanus species is evergreen, and the campanulatus species die down during winter and re-emerge in spring.
• Agapanthus is commonly referred to as the ‘flower of love,’ making them a meaningful gift or décor element for weddings.

Sharon Naylor is the author of over 35 books on family celebrations, including weddings, bridal showers, vow renewals, and more. She is beyond thrilled to be the new guest blogger for The Farm, and she will be posting inspirations and tips for your parties, get-togethers and big family moments throughout the year. Visit her website www.sharonnaylor.net for more on her books and articles.

Perennial favorites

Tulips are another favorite perennial flower of the Northeast. Being a perennial, a tulip should bloom year after year, but this isn’t always the case. Tulips are planted in the fall and they immediately start to root not blooming until spring. Once you see the Tulip blossoms you will find them in almost any color. Tulips come in many varieties in size, scent, and shape. They can be found as a double, fringed, or even twisted. Some tulips are perfumed and even unscented. You may find tulips in a variety of sizes from miniature blossoms to larger tulips like that of 2 1/2 feet high. These lovely flowers aren’t too big, too small, too elegant, and too romantic; tulips are just right for any occasion. Tulips are known for being a symbol of imagination, dreaminess, perfect lover, and a declaration of love.

Tulips have many needs and have strange characteristic that you may not see in many other flower types. As stated, tulips bloom in springtime, however, they can bloom from three separate flowering seasons; early, mid, and late spring. This is nice because they will provide beauty in your flower garden throughout the spring. Tulips are pretty easy to grow in colder climates, because tulips need cold in order to bloom. Don’t fret; those that live in a warm climate can buy pre-cooled bulbs that will bloom a few weeks after planting. The drawback to these types of tulips is that you have to replant these year after year and they aren’t effective in cost.

Tulips look beautiful in a garden or as a center piece. In a garden, tulips look great in garden beds and along the borders of a flower garden. As cut flowers, tulips are long-lasting and look great alone standing tall in a vase or in a centerpiece mixed with other colorful flower varieties. In your garden or resting on your table, tulips will make you feel delighted and will look great no matter what you decide to do with them.

Planning the landscape of a garden or a yard can be intimidating. Many start off by choosing plants that look pretty in the nursery without looking into which plants are best for the landscaped plan decided upon. In researching the proper plants, you will have better success with your garden.

Don’t only look into the colors and beauty of a plant when choosing plants for your garden, look into the purposes of the plant and how the plant will work with your landscape plans. Plants can be used for screening, shade, erosion control, noise control, and for simple beauty. Use all of these specifications to build a great garden for your home.

Getting started, understand the plants growth habits and requirements to grow properly. So many don’t research the size that the plant can reach, the amount of sun or water a plant may need, tolerance to the weather elements, or the type of soil a plant will need. What about trees that crack sidewalks and bust through pipes, proper planning can help you avoid this. Also, the texture of a plant is of great importance, don’t plant a rough or thorn filled bush in the middle of a walkway.

Things to look into when choosing the right plants are the size of the plant at full maturity, insects that the plant may attract, sun and shade requirements, moisture and drought tolerance, seasons roles in your plants life cycle, planting zones with their specifications, and soil type that best suits your plants of choice. It is vital to understand what is needed for your garden to thrive.

Research a plant encyclopedia or leave plant planning to the experts. Doing your homework or hiring a professional in regards to choosing the right plants will solve this. Why spend so much time and money on a lovely garden that won’t work when you can simply do it right the first time.