FLOWERS & MORE
INTRODUCTION
The popularity of the carnation waxes and wanes. In the French Grand Era, (Louis XIV), the carnation was the favored flower of the royal court. In America today, the carnation is seen as an old fashioned and overused flower. However, it is coming back into favor with both interior and floral designers. Their strong shape can add a touch of modernity to interiors. We find them today not in the pale pastels, but in piquant pink, fiery red and various hectic orange hues. And the way to arrange them has changed too. Gone are the spiky triangles with the lonely carnation heads stranded in mid air; and so have the single blobs of color strewn around bouquets. you can bind them together in bunches with ribbon and lean against vase sides at crazy angles; crowd them together in large numbers in tall glass vases; float in wide bowls or as a collection of small bouquets fringed by attractive round leaves. Carnations can easily tempt you into having a go! The new methods of arranging are based on simplicity and exuberance. Carnations make a vivid contribution to the metamorphosis going on in the style of our homes.
Roses are perhaps the best-known flowers in the world. They are cultivated from South America to Africa, from Eastern Europe to the Far East. In many countries roses are strongly connected to special events, ceremonies, and symbolic events. In Europe and America, roses are synonymous with Valentine’s Day, a floral symbol of love and passion. Clay tablets excavated in the temples of Ur in Iraq speak of the delivery of large quantities of rose water intended for the sultan of Bagdad. The sultan used no fewer than 30,000 jars of rose water a year, to make his rooms smell nice for his extensive harem. But refreshing harems was not the only purpose for which rose water was used. The Saracen general Saladin sent camel caravans loaded with rose water through his empire to cleanse the mosques after ‚impure‘ crusaders had occupied the prayer rooms. And what about the flower itself, the rose? Saladin recaptured Jerusalem, and put an end to the Second Crusade. The crusaders returned to the West with rose plants, which were then cultivated by monks in their monastery gardens. Not for their beauty, but – like lilies – as an ingredient for medicine. Rose water was successfully used to cure all kinds of ailments, such as trembling, constipation, drunkenness, skin and throat infections and insomnia. There is some truth in this, as we now know that Rosa rugosa hips contain high levels of vitamin C. Until the early 19th century dried rose petals were believed to have mysterious powers. Napoleon gave his officers bags of rose petals to boil in white wine, to cure lead poisoning from bullet wounds. Even today, rose water is still used to refresh the hands before a feast or a festive greeting, from the Middle East to northern India. Roses have an enchanting scent. Cleopatra covered the floors of her palace with a thick layer of rose petals every day. The mattresses and pillows of her bed were stuffed with rose petals, too. Cleopatra also had the sails of her royal barge soaked in rose water. When the breezes filled the sails, the sent of roses filled the air. It is said that the citizens along the Nile could smell Cleoprata’s ship well before they saw it. When the Roman conqueror Mark Anthony climbed aboard her ship he immediately fell in love with her. This alone makes the rose the flower of love par excellence. (…)
Although most Americans view sunflowers as a flower from France, the sunflower is a native of Mexico and Peru, introduced into this country in the sixteenth century. The genus Helianthus, to which the Sunflower belongs, contains about fifty species, chiefly natives of North America; many are indigenous to the Rocky Mountains, others to tropical America, and a few species are found in Peru and Chile. In Peru, this flower was much reverenced by the Aztecs, and in their temples of the Sun, the priestesses were crowned with Sunflowers and carried them in their hands. The early Spanish conquerors found in these temples numerous representations of the Sunflower wrought in pure gold.
Hydrangeas are very wilt sensitive and can be very tricky to work with. If after general procedures for hydration the blossoms still wilt, recut the stem ends then place them in a clean vase with four inches of boiling water. Allow the flowers to hydrate for several hours before storage or usage. If harvesting hydrangea blossoms from your garden for use as a cut flower, do not select young blossoms. Harvest blossoms that have been on the plant longer. Cut the stems below the new green growth and into the woody portion of the stem. Then, recut the stem ends and place them in a clean vase with four inches of boiling water. Allow the flowers to hydrate for several hours before storage or usage. Be aware that some cultivars of hydrangea simply will not hydrate as a cut flower.
Tulips are very phototropic and will curve rapidly toward the light. Designers must allow for this in creating a floral design as well as the fact that cut tulips continue to grow in length approximately one inch per day. The name tulip comes from the Turkish for turban, referring to the shape of the flower bud; although native to that area of the world, tulips are now grown throughout the world. Many people associate them with Holland: „Tulips from Amsterdam“, as the song goes. But even before a European envoy found them in the ornamental gardens of a Turkish sultan, they were popular with the Indian shahs. They were originally native to Turkey, Iran, Syria and parts of Asia and have been cultivated in Europe since the 16th century. It was the Dutch who began to breed them in 1593 and by 1633 the Dutch upper classes were gripped by „Tulip Mania“, the frenzied trading in tulip bulbs. Prized tulip bulbs were selling for astronomical prices. Fortunes were made in trading tulip futures (primarily by tulip bulb merchants), and fortunes were lost. As in so many „hot stock markets“ (dot.com comes to mind), buyers eventually realized that a tulip bulb was just a tulip bulb. There is an enormous range of colors and shapes, from double tulips, which resemble roses, to lily-flowered ones with elegant pointed petals and the wonderful fringed or contorted two- or three-toned parrot tulips. Research has shown that people see tulips as sophisticated and stylish. They like them to curve towards the light, for tulips continue to grow strongly after cutting. Some like them bold and upright and, for this, a light source above the flower heads will do the trick. Certainly, their strong form suits modern interiors very well and mixed with other flowers, they bring focus to informal and hand-tied bouquets. The tulip never goes out of fashion; it is merely displayed in different ways in different eras.
Lily pollen can perminately stain clothing. Use gloves when removing anthers. If pollen should get on flower petals, gently brush it off with a chenille stem. If pollen should get on clothing, immediately lift it of by gently touching the pollen with sticky tape. In the past, various flowers were used to prepare remedies in popular medicine, some served as lucky charms, while others were thought to be capable of averting the evil eye. In another historical account we read that people were interested in lilies for their anti-toxic powers and their capacity of curing depressions. In Europe, too, lilies were used as a remedy against a wide range of diseases and ailments right up to the beginning of the last century. However, just as today, people in the past valued the lily for its outstanding beauty as well as its usefulness. A lily has adorned the coat of arms of the kings of France since 1179. King Chlodwig I allegedly received this ‚fleur de lys‘, as it is called in heraldic language, from an angel. But in actual fact his flower wasn’t a lily, as the name implies, but an iris. Via Louis XI the motif made its way to the coat of arms of the Medici family, and from there on to the arms of Florence and Tuscany. Interestingly, only the Florentine ‚fleur de lys‘ has stamens like a lily. Like irises, and tulips, lilies grow from bulbs. So it’s not unlikely that the Dutch botanist Carolus Clusius, who planted the first tulip bulb in the Hortus Botanicus of Leiden, also successfully cultivated the first lily. In Greek poetry, the lily stood for tenderness. It was also referred to as the voice of cicadas or of the muses. There is a Greek myth that tells us how the lily was born from the milk of the goddess Hera. The lily still symbolises pure, virginal love in the Christian world. The white lily is the prima donna in the world of lilies, a symbol of purity and love on the one hand, and royalty on the other, with powers to heal the sick. In today’s permissive ‚republican‘ commercially-driven society these virtues may have lost some of their former significance, but in a new millennium, we may once again place our hope in the ideals of lilies.
Peonies create an atmosphere of understated opulence. They inspire images of grand porcelain bowls of peonies gracing the boudoirs of distinguished ladies in stately homes, mansions and small castles. Peonies have long been cultivated with care in walled gardens and epitomize that full-blown English garden look. Japan too loves peonies. Their earliest peony blooms are individually protected against snow by small thatched shelters. Some geishas used to wear special peony colors. The Chinese, too, idolized this flower. We find peony motifs, particularly bright red ones, on Chinese silks and in their exuberant wood-carvings. The common thread is that the flower always denotes luxury and indulgence.
HARVARD: LIVING WITH FLOWERS
HARVARD: LIVING WITH FLOWERS STRENGTHENS FEELINGS OF COMPASSION, AND DECREASES ANXIETY AND WORRY
With people’s desire for tranquility and
stress relief stronger than ever, fresh research takes an insightful look at
flowers and the important role they may play in our daily lives. A behavioral
research study conducted by Nancy Etcoff, Ph.D., of Massachusetts General
Hospital and Harvard Medical School, reveals that people feel more
compassionate toward others, have less worry and anxiety, and feel less
depressed when fresh cut flowers are present in the home.
Other research has proven that flowers make people happy when they receive
them, Etcoff says. „What we didn’t know is that spending a few days with
flowers in the home can affect a wide variety of feelings.“
The Home Ecology of Flowers Study at Harvard uncovered three main findings:
- Flowers feed compassion.
Study participants who lived with fresh cut flowers for less than a week
felt an increase in feelings of compassion and kindness for others.
- Flowers chase away anxieties, worries and the blues at home.
Overall, people in the study simply felt less negative after being around flowers at home for just a few days.
Participants most frequently placed flowers in their kitchens, dining rooms and living rooms, where they spend a lot of time at home. They reported wanting to see the blooms first thing in the morning. - Living with flowers can provide a boost of energy, happiness and enthusiasm at work.
Having flowers at home can have a positive carry-over impact on our mood at work, too. The study found that people were more likely to feel happier and have more enthusiasm and energy at work when flowers were in their home living environments.
„As a psychologist, I’m particularly intrigued to find that people who live with flowers report fewer episodes of anxiety and depressed feelings,“ Etcoff says. „Our results suggest that flowers have a positive impact on our well being.“
https://www.cmlflowers.com/usrf.cfm?funfacts=health_ecology&campaign=cml
UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT: STRESS & FLOWERS
If you’re feeling stress from too much work, or no job, too hectic a schedule, the world economic crisis or even your own, turn to buds not bottles. University research has linked flowers to happiness, creativity, compassion, and tranquility. Flowers and plants provide emotional and behavioral benefits, in addition to their aesthetic and environmental benefits.
A study at Rutgers University, published in the April 2005 issue of Evolutionary Psychology, reveals that flowers improve emotional health. It showed that people can manage their daily moods by healthy and natural means, and that flowers trigger happy emotions, a feeling of life satisfaction, and positive social behavior beyond what most believe. No matter the age group, all participants in the study show immediate happiness on receiving flowers. They felt less depressed after getting flowers, were less anxious or agitated, and showed a higher level of life satisfaction. Female participants reported these positive feelings lasted for days. Flowers led to increased intimacy with family and friends in this study.
On the giver side, in a related study at Rutgers by Dr. Haviland-Jones, both men and women who gave flowers were perceived as happy, achieving, strong, capable, and courageous people. They came across as more emotionally intelligent. Female floral givers were seen as more appreciative of beauty and nature.
If you feel happy receiving flowers, do they keep on helping in the home? A study from Harvard University Medical School by Dr. Nancy Etcoff focused on the „home ecology“ of flowers– the effects of flowers in the home on personal well-being. With flowers in the home for less than a week, she found that participants felt more compassion towards others, had less worry and anxiety, and felt less depressed. Just a few days of flowers at home made people more positive, and all these effects carried over into work as well.
In the Harvard study, people wanted flowers placed so they could be seen right off in the morning. Being „down“ in the morning is common with many, the more positive moods of happiness and friendliness for example being seen later in the day. Seeing flowers in the morning, often in the kitchen, can jumpstart these positive moods.
Not only do flowers promote positive attitudes that carry forward into the workplace, but also flowers promote innovation and creative ideas, according to a study at Texas A&M. The lead researcher, Dr. Roger Ulrich, said this increased productivity could mean the difference between mild and great business success. While men in the study generated more ideas in the presence of flowers and plants, women generated more creative and flexible solutions in their presence.
Another behavioral study at Harvard on the workplace focused on employee commitment and productivity, two key factors for business success. „Productivity is largely affected by the quality of human relationships including cooperative, social group moods, and interaction.“ Using flowers and plants to engender positive behavior of happiness, compassion, and friendliness is one means to improve productivity.
Following a study at Rutgers in 2000, showing that flowers cause greater happiness and life satisfaction in women, a study in 2001 showed that flowers boost seniors‘ well being. As more in our population age, more challenges come with this. The Rutgers study showed that flowers counteract at least three advanced age challenges– easing depression, inspiring social networking, and refreshing memory. According to Dr. Haviland-Jones, „Our research shows that a small dose of nature, like flowers, can do a world of wonder for our well-being as we age.“ This researcher goes on to state, „Happier people live longer, healthier lives and are more open to change.“
More on the positive power of flowers can be found on the website of the Society of American Florists (www.aboutflowers.com). Also on this website are specific tips by interior designer Jayme Barrett on using flowers for serenity, inspiration, wellness, gratitude, love, and optimism. For each mood she suggests an appropriate color combination, vase style, placement in the home, and flower varieties– all factors your might consider when giving or receiving flowers, or when designing your own arrangements.
Virtually bind a bunch of flowers chosen from parts 1-7. (Add more, if you like). Describe the ready bouquet using some characteristics included in these parts and try to find out what impact it could have on your well-being.
What associations do you have with the flowers in this project?
Can you list more which you strongly connect with positive experiences or feelings?
Western science has made and is still making a great number of discoveries in all domains of life. What is the influence of flowers on humans described in RESEARCH?
According to Ellen Langer, Professor at Harvard University, mindfulness (and not flowers) is the key to health, well-being, but also to success (seeing new possibilities) and better aging.
Watch the movies below (you can find more of the same scientist on YouTube) and try to explain why, if it is that easy, not all people, or at least not the majority, are mindful. If mindfulness is the key, how to stay mindful while aging?
Another question is how to reconcile „achievement“ (the driving force for many nowadays) and „mindfulness“?
Harvard Research
How to enhance the state of well-being: with flowers or through mindfulness? This project shows merely two ways, a softer and a more demanding one, but are they really enough?
The idea here is to evoke the intention of looking for a long-term „remedy“ which should not only be permanently effective but, again, culturally compatible.
Another aim of this project is to imply the necessity of a lifelong interrogation, i.e. of adapting the approch of a true scientist, as one of the pillars of the Western world is science, indeed.
