Flowers in Season December 25 - 31

Cyclamen

Via Garden World Images



The flower symbolism associated with cyclamen flowers is resignation and goodbye. This symbolism makes cyclamen especially appropriate for gifts for friends who are retiring or relocating. [2]

The most difficult thing to do is to say ‘goodbye’. Parting and separation are an integral part of life, yet, how often we cower away from the thought of saying goodbye to someone we love! At times such as these, offering a cyclamen often shows greater sentiment, a more valuable emotion than bombastic words of farewell. 

The cyclamen is one of the most popular Christmas plants in Europe, but it lost its place on the pedestal to the poinsettia here in the United States. Poinsettias may be the premier holiday plant, but if you are not growing cyclamen, too, you are missing out. [4]

Cyclamen is a genus of 23 species of perennials growing from tubers, valued for their flowers with up-swept petals and variably patterned leaves. Cyclamen species are native from Europe and the Mediterranean region east to Iran, with one species in Somalia. In most species, leaves come up in autumn, grow through the winter, and die in spring, then the plant goes dormant through the dry Mediterranean summer. [1]

Flowers in Season December 4 - 10

December is in full swing, and it's time to throw on classic Christmas albums (Elizabeth's favorite is this one by Miss Barbara Streisand; Maggie is partial to A Christmas Gift For You from Phil Spector) and use our flower of the week to smooch someone you have a crush on.

Mistletoe

Image via Pinterest

Mistletoe, or Phoradendrum Seritonum, has been a symbol of love and fertility for thousands of years, having once been used in Druid ceremonies and then evolving into "kissing balls" in 18th century England - under the mistletoe kissing ball, it was bad luck for a lady to refuse a gentleman's kiss.* While we don't advocate forcing your object of affection to kiss you under the threat of a years' worth of bad luck, hanging mistletoe in doorways is a long-standing tradition. Tack sprigs of it outside your front door on New Years' Eve to welcome the new year and guard against evil spirits like the Celts, or hang it above a newborn baby's crib to prevent fairies from snatching him and putting a changeling in his place - new holiday mamas take note!

*from The Secret Language of Flowers, by Samantha Gray

Vintage Christmas Postcards

Hanging in the store right now is a collection of these incredible vintage postcard, all from the early 1900s and containing handwritten Christmas wishes to Gene and Lula (who are you, Gene and Lula?).

A joyful Christmas garland

Merry Xmas. Have you hugged your Grandma today?

Fun with etymology: Did you know that the X in Xmas actually comes from the Greek letter Chi, which is the first letter of the Greek word Χριστός, which in turn translates to Christ? Many people believe the X is an attempt to secularize Christmas, but this is simply not the case!

Elizabeth added cute ribbon and charm embellishments to turn the cards into hanging ornaments.

Hello Lula: postmarked 1909.

This particular card is 102 years old - look at the beautiful handwriting and that one cent stamp! Here are a few tidbits about what happened in the world the year this card was mailed:

 -Einar Dasseu becomes the world's first radio broadcaster after sending signals with a short wave radio transmitter.

-Zora Arkus-Dontav, designer of the Corvette, is born

-Louis Bleriot becomes the first man to fly across the English Channel (thus a large open body of water) in a heavier-than-air craft

Hello Lula, it's now 1912

 This card will greet its 100th birthday next year. Here are a few more events that will be celebrating their 100th anniversary:

-The Republic of China was established

-New Mexico and Arizona join the U.S. as the 47th and 48th states

-Girl Scouts of the USA are founded by Juliette Gordon Low

-Boston's Fenway park opens and the Red Sox win the World Series

-The "unsinkable" RMS Titanic goes down in one of the most famous shipwrecks in history

Christmas greetings and snorts from the cutest dog on earth

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you All, from Aunt Agnes

Holiday Decorations

We have had our Christmas decorations up in the store since right after Halloween. Retail is always ahead of the holidays. Now that Thanksgiving is over we are stepping up some of our holiday decorations. We've moved our Christmas tree into a more prominant place, we updated the wreath on our door, and we are adding a woodland tree to the front of the store. 

LaFleur believes!

Our owl friend pops up again! We never get sick of him.





How cute are these moss mushrooms?

Photoshoot for Texas Home and Living.

It was so great to style this holiday photo shoot that was featured in Texas Home and Living - check out the original post here.Thanks for Polkadots Cupcake Factory and Suzi Q of Q Weddings for including us!

Flowers in Season November 27 - December 3

Can you believe it will be December in just a few days? I refuse to acknowledge the holiday's after Thanksgiving until I have enjoyed Thanksgiving, being that it is my favorite holiday. But now that that is over it is time to embrace the season of Christmas. This week's flower is the poinsettia.

Poinsettia

Euphorbia pulcherrima



Photo via Garden World Images



The poinsettia is synonymous with Christmas. Poinsettia are native to Mexico. The Aztecs used the plant to produce red dye and as an antipyretic medication.^[1] Today it is known in Mexico and Guatemala as "Noche Buena", meaning Christmas Eve. In Spain it is known as "Flor de Pascua", meaning "Easter flower". In both Chile and Peru, the plant became known as "Crown of the Andes".

The plant's association with Christmas began in 16th century Mexico, where legend tells of a young girl who was too poor to provide a gift for the celebration of Jesus' birthday. The tale goes that the child was inspired by an angel to gather weeds from the roadside and place them in front of the church altar. Crimson "blossoms" sprouted from the weeds and became beautiful poinsettias.^[2] From the 17th century, Franciscan friars in Mexico included the plants in their Christmas celebrations.^[3] The star-shaped leaf pattern is said to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem, and the red color represents the blood sacrifice through the crucifixion of Jesus.^[4]

Poinsettias are part of the Euphorbiaceae family. Many plants in this family ooze a milky sap.^[5] As with all ornamental plants, poinsettias are not intended for human or animal consumption. Individuals with a sensitivity to latex - the milky fluid found in cut poinsettias and other plants - may experience allergic reactions in the form of a rash or irritation that develops when the skin is exposed to the latex. This has been observed to occur only with people who are allergic to latex and products made from this material. However, the poinsettia has been demonstrated to be a safe plant. In fact, in 1992, the poinsettia was included on the list of houseplants most helpful in removing pollutants from indoor air. So, not only is the poinsettia a safe and beautiful addition to your holiday decor, it can even help keep your indoor air clean! ^[6]

Even I didn't know that the poinsettia was not poisonous - I have never had them in my home for the holidays for fear of poisoning my cats. I am pleased to find out that not only can I get a few this year, but that they will clean the air in my home as well. Now I just have to decide what color to buy!