Expert Advice: Paper Flowers!

All this rain we've been getting in Austin lately has meant spending a few grey days occupying ourselves with cute crafts! Making these paper flowers were a cheery way to spend an afternoon, and they turned out perfectly precious, don't you think?

Continue on to see how we made them! 

Flower of the Week

Lilac

Syringa vulgaris

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According to Greek mythology, Syringa was a beautiful nymph who captivated Pan, the god of the forests and fields. Pan chased Syringa through his domain until, finally, Syringa was exhausted and could only escape by turning herself into a plant - the fragrant flower we know now as lilac.

Lilac's meanings of first love and youthful innocence arise from its flowering time being a harbinger of spring. Purple-flowering lilacs convey the first emotion sof love, whereas white or pink flowering lilacs are associated with youthful innocence.  In Russian folklore, cradling a newborn beneath a lilac bush would bring the child wisdom. In parts of the Mediterranean, lilac is closely associated with the festival of Easter because it so often blooms around that time. Lilac is also the flower for eighth wedding anniversaries. *

*Excerpt from The Secret Language of Flowers by Samantha Grey

Flower of the Week: Cherry Blossoms

Cherry Blossom

Prunus serrulata

We usually see photos of cherry blossoms en masse, but they're absolutely precious close up!

All around the country, cherry trees are flowering into clouds of pink petals, a beautiful and delightful sight to behold. There are multiple cherry blossom festivals in the United States, the most noteworthy of which is probably the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC. Cherry blossoms have a long history and many varied meanings, the most famous of which is the Japanese tradition of hanami - essentially parties organized to view blossoming cherry trees. Originally hanami were philosophical excursions with the purpose of reflecting on the transient nature of life, but have evolved into festive gatherings to enjoy the beauty of nature. 

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Japan and the United States have been exchanging gifts of cherry trees as tokens of friendship since 1910. The first trees from Japan were planted in Sakura Park in Manhattan (sakura being the Japanese name for the cherry tree) and along the shore of the Tidal Basin in Washington DC, and this gift was renewed in 1965 with the planting of an additional 3800 trees. In 1981, a fire destroyed a number of cherry trees in Japan, and the United States was able to reciprocate the kindness of the Japanese by offering cuttings from the original trees planted in Sakura Park to Japanese horticulturalists working to restore the cherry tree population. 

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In Japan, the cherry blossom is a symbol for the ephemeral nature of life, extreme beauty, and quick death. In Chinese tradition, the cherry blossom stands for the empowerment of women, beauty, and feminine sexuality.