Flowers for Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day can be a difficult one. It can trigger lots of memories, which is not a bad thing but you can feel a little overwhelmed. As a flower lover myself I find great comfort in the garden. Certain flower scents evoke such powerful memories of my Mum. I can’t smell a Lilly and not think of her. Many of our customers plant favourite flowers next to our garden memorials so that when they spend time near the urn they are reminded of their wonderful mum.
I love to give and to receive flowers but what do they mean? I thought I’d do some research and share flower meanings as they are fascinating. To start with here are 6 flower meanings for the flowers we give on Mother’s Day
Lilies
I’ll start with my Mum’s favourite flower. The White Lily is a symbol of Purity. It is that that the day lily is the symbol for motherhood in China so that might be why so many mums love them! The scent can be a little overpowering in a small room. But planted in a memorial garden the smell catches a breeze and sends the aroma straight to your heart.
Because of their delicate appearance people often think that lilies are hard to grow. Actually they are very un-fussy plants. They are happy to grow in lots of soil types (see my handy guide to testing your soil) and don’t mind sunny or slightly shady spots.
Gerbera Daisies
Did you know that Gerbera’s are the 5th most popular flower in the world? They are named after the German Botantist Traubott Gerber. They come in loads of amazingly bright colours which might account for their popularity. I like a strong structural flower, daffodils are a big love of mine, and Gerbera’s are simple and striking.
They can mean innocence and purity but they also mean cheerfulness which makes them an excellent gift or wonderful for planting in your memorial garden. You cannot help but smile when you see the colour bursting into your garden. They like a sunny position in sandy soil.
Carnations
It’s a shame as carnations don’t have the best reputation. I was at a gathering recently when one lady – who organised weddings – said they were her worst flower. For me it’s a reminder of so many brilliant family weddings – I have a very large extended family! They remind me of of my fabulous aunties who tied the knot in the 1970’s. As you walked into the church you someone would hand all the grown-ups a carnation that was wrapped in silver foil and safety pin. Adults then pinned them to their very wide lapels! I would hanker after a flower and if I was very lucky there might be one left over at the end that I could pin to my long dress.
Apparently white carnations mean “sweet and lovely” and pink ones mean “I will never forget you”. The two-toned carnation means “I cannot be with you,” and yellow carnations signify “disdain.”
Tulips
Red roses aren’t the only flower with a romantic meaning; red tulips are also considered a declaration of love. And this is the love enduring love of family members which makes them a perfect flower for your memorial garden. The Victorians linked their meaning to charity and supporting the less fortunate which is something that resonates for my mother.
It’s another strong structural form and comes in so many different colours now, as anyone who has visited the Netherlands will agree, make it the perfect choice for any colour scheme. Purple is the regal choice, for all those Mums who love the Royal Family and Pink symbolises intense affection and love.
Roses
The rose has many different meanings, in Greek Mythology it is the symbol of Aphrodite. The Romans linked the rose to Venue. This is probably the reason why traditionally the rose is so closely linked to romantic love. But it is also linked to sympathy and sorrow which make them such a poignant choice for your memorial garden. So unless your mum was an ardent Liverpool supporter then you don’t have to choose red roses. Pink roses gained popularity because they are the most commonly found wild variety. Today darker pink symbolises gratitude and appreciation whilst lighter pink means gentleness and admiration. The perfect hues for any mum!
And whilst colour is obviously very important scent is also key for your garden. I always associate orange and yellow roses with my mum as she loved cheerful colours and we had the heady perfume of Sunsprite in our garden when we were growing up. So intensely fabulous.
Orchids
I have just been given my first orchid as a Mother’s Day present from my oldest son. And I have to say it’s an instant hit in my house. We were really lucky to visit an Orchid house in the Botanical Gardens in Candy last year. I’d previously thought they were a bit fussy and very difficult to grow but it appears I was wrong. Here’s a selection of the most stunning blooms.
Whatever you chose to plant I’m sure your mum will be proud.