During the Victorian era, people conveyed their feelings on Valentine’s Day through the different meanings of flowers. Nothing conveys warm feelings like cut flowers, especially roses. However, their beauty doesn’t last forever. For a lasting gift consider giving the gift of a plant!
A quick look at the meanings of other flowers will introduce many more associated with love. The choice of a Valentine’s gift that expresses your feelings is up to you!
Winter honeysuckle symbolizes devotion — what could be a better Valentine’s Day gift?
The camellia, with the meaning, “I am longing for you,” is a wonderful choice! These glossy evergreen shrubs flower in late winter and early spring, so you may find one bursting with buds in your garden center now.
The perfect gift may be as close as the nearest supermarket, where orchids, meaning “You have cast a spell over me,” are often readily available. Want to know more about the meaning of flowers in the houseplants you might choose? The Old Farmer’s Almanac has a list of common plants and flowers and their meanings.
Plants are not only aesthetically pleasing but also give you a sense of comfort and peaceful relaxation. The greenery in your house may also purify the air, reduce toxins, and lift your mood. According to a study by Texas A&M University, a plant in your home or workplace significantly increases your concentration, focus, and energy; and stimulates both a physiological and psychological relaxation response.
More findings on the health benefits of indoor plants can be found in the infographic, “#PlantsDoThat Where We Heal,” available for download, reprint, or adaptation at ConsumerHort.org. When posting on social media, please use the hashtag #PlantsDoThat.
“At NICH we believe everyone should enjoy the many benefits of horticulture. Why pass up an opportunity to give a plant?” says Helen Newling Lawson, Chair of the NICH Marketing Committee. “A living, growing plant is a great way to say, ‘I love you.’”
The National Initiative for Consumer Horticulture (NICH) is a consortium of industry leaders who are promoting the benefits and value of horticulture. NICH brings together academia, government, industry, and nonprofits to cultivate the growth and development of a healthy world through landscapes, gardens and plants — indoors and out.
Leave a Reply