Flowers & Plants For Events
Flowers have been used to honour special occasions and celebrate achievements since ancient times. Archaeological evidence has suggested that early man incorporated flowers and plants into their rituals. But how do we use flowers today? Here’s a list of key occasions and some suggestions from the Flowers & Plants Association on what to choose to enhance a special experience:
• Valentine’s Day
• Mother's Day
• Father's Day
• Easter
• Christmas
• New Year
• Weddings
• Parties
Valentine’s Day
In a 2009 Flowers & Plants Association public poll, we found that there was a near-even split between people wanting red roses for Valentine’s Day, wanting something more unusual, or wanting their favourite flower. The conclusion? Whether you’re buying for your girlfriend, boyfriend, partner or loved one, try and find out what they like in advance for the most thoughtful gift. See what the Flowers & Plants Association recommends for Valentine's Day 2010
Mother's Day
In Canada and the US, the traditional Mother's Day flower is a carnation. Pink carnations are given to symbolise children’s love for their mothers, and white carnations are worn as button holes in respect for mothers who have passed away.
A very vogue flower to give to mums in the UK in the 50's and 60's was a single Cattleya orchid, which has a big, blowsy head and was traditionally given to girls on their prom night in the US as a wrist corsage. Nowadays there are hundreds of different varieties of orchid to choose from. Give your mum a pleasant surprise with a beautifully patterned cymbidium orchid. These come as a chic cut flower or stunning houseplant.
Spring flowers are also strongly associated with Mothers Day – choose from flowers such as tulips, scented narcissi and daffodils for an authentic mother’s day bouquet. For glamour and sophistication, a bunch of hyacinths will make Mum feel like a beauty queen for the day. Their fragrance is used in over 30 designer fragrances, so why not treat your Mum to the real thing?
A great idea is to get a flowering houseplant. The longlasting blooms will remind your mum how gorgeous and generous you are long after the day is over, and you can even buy a plant that would be suitable for the patio, so she can think of you each time she visits the garden! Great choices are potted roses, hydrangea and cyclamen. Look out for SunPatiens, a great plant with lots of flowers and foliage that will live happily indoors or outdoors; all flowering bedding plants will keep going right through the summer, providing great value for money.
Floral themes to show mum you care
Father's Day
After the rush and fuss of Valentine's Day and Mother's Day, it could be easy to forget your Dad on June 21st. Once the biggest floral days are out of the way, you could be tempted to kick back your feet and think it's all over until Christmas. But what about remembering that one special man in your life – who always lends you his last tenner, patiently gives you lifts in the middle of the night, and happily does all the odd jobs in your home? Who acts as dog sitter, gives you pointless tools as presents, and doesn't know what to say to you on the phone? It's a known fact that flowers speak louder than words.
We have some great suggestions on how to show your Dad you love him in the best way possible this summer. What about a flowering plant for his office, or a big bright bunch of flowers to make him feel extra-special? Men love bright, vibrant colours like red, and simple, bold shapes like sunflowers or chrysanthemum.
If you opt for a plant, try a bromeliad. They're bright, unusual and architectural, and don't need lots of care if your Dad doesn't have green fingers.
So keep your Dad happy and healthy this Father's Day. Show him you care with flowers and indoor plants.
Easter
Create a sacred space in your home with a small floral altar, whether you're showing your appreciation for the passing of the seasons or for your god. Scent is used in Eastern traditions to assist with meditation and to connect to spirit, so think about using naturally fragrant hyacinths, freesia, or the classic symbol of Easter in Christianity, white lilies.
For a more modern twist on Easter arrangements, look no further than the spring fashion flower trend from the Flowers & Plants Association, who produce four seasonal, super-sassy trends for flowers and plants every year. The flower trend for 2009, Participate to Create, uses a medley of spring flowers in colourful tones, and is all about expressing yourself through the flowers you choose and the way you arrange them. For an extra Easter twist, be sure to accessorise with egg motifs!
For a longer lasting Easter treat, look to potted indoor plants. Whether for an Easter gift or to brighten up the home, there's the perfect plant for everyone. Choose from easy-care foliage plants, pretty flowering plants, funky tropical plants, or low-maintenance cacti and succulents.
Christmas
To update your existing decorations, accessorise with flowers and plants. In a 2008 Flowers & Plants Association public poll, we found that 60% of respondents felt it wasn’t truly Christmas without a poinsettia – the UK’s favourite Christmas houseplant. Don’t just stick to traditional red – they come in cream, pink, white, salmon, orange, and with patterned petals. You can get a modern look by carefully choosing the type of container you put your plant in. Get creative and make your own!. Why not give a poinsettia as a Christmas gift for teachers, helpful neighbours, and fabulous friends to thank them for all they do throughout the year?
Amaryllis, roses and spring blooms are favourite choices of flowers for Christmas, but you can choose orchids, eucharis and anthuriums for a more exclusive look. All of these flowers last for weeks, so you can celebrate right through to New Year!
New Year
If Christmas is a time for family, then New Year is a time for friends. If you’re hosting a party, celebrate in style with flowers and plants to welcome your guests in the hallway as they arrive. Ivy symbolises friendship, so use tendrils in your arrangements or go for a trailing plant. Add glitz to your flowers and plants by sprinkling glitter over finished arrangements.
Show your appreciation to a friend who’s hosting a party by taking a bunch of their favourite blooms or a funky houseplant. You can choose something that symbolises luck, to wish them well for the coming year – try a money plant or jade plant (crassula) for wealth and abundance, some stems of ‘lucky bamboo’ included in a bouquet for luck, and green flowers (the colour traditionally associated with luck) like carnations, anthuriums or chrysanthemums. If you are celebrating Chinese New Year, then citrus trees are the gifts to give, as their golden fruits represent wealth to come.
Weddings
It is customary for guests to wear button holes (worn on a gent's left lapel) or corsages (worn upside-down on the lady's right lapel – or where her lapel would be). For a more modern look, why not accessorise with fun flower jewellery? Flower necklaces, bracelets, fascinators and even earrings can make your outfit look suitable for the occasion whilst looking fashionable and fresh. Our sister site tryflowers.org.uk has a whole section on flower jewellery in the Occasions section.
If you're the one who's getting married, then you can find pages of free wedding advice, hints and tips here.
Parties
Many florists now specialise in events and corporate work; even in the current economic climate companies still want to throw a Christmas party, promote a product launch, or celebrate an anniversary (see our anniversary section earlier).
Flowers for events are different to flowers for our own homes – they don’t need to last a long time, but they do need to be very impressive. They also need to conform to health & safety standards as no-one wants flowers to fall on a guest!
Tablecentres should either be very tall and thin, so guests can talk around them (candelabra are ideal for this); or low and level, so guests can talk over the top.
It’s not good to have scented flowers at a gala dinner, as the smell of flowers and food is not an effective combination; however at a drinks reception or gallery viewing scented flowers are a wonderful idea as they help guests relax and feel energised.
Flowers or large plants at the entrance to a party or event help set the mood for the evening, and can be decorated or colour-themed to match the party theme. Birch twigs and orchids for a winter wonderland; box trees and hydrangeas for a stately home feeling; gerberas and palms for a fun carnival atmosphere.
