Birthdays are a lovely time when we can socialise with our loved ones and celebrate the people for being in our lives. These yearly occasions allow celebrants to reflect on the past year and set future goals. It’s also the perfect time to open presents and indulge in delicious cakes.
While gifts, happy memories, and yummy food are crucial in celebrating this significant milestone, no April celebration would be complete without buying birthday flowers like daisies and sweet peas.
Let’s discuss the origins and symbolism of these notable April birth flowers. We’ll also provide some tips for growing them in gardens.
1. Daisies
We call daisies “day’s eye” because they open during the day and close at night. These flowers belong to the aster family and can bloom in spring or fall. They also have a unique structure with two blooms, the centre eye and ray florets. Moreover, while native to Europe and Africa, daisies have since become naturalised in North America.
A Brief History of the Daisies
While German botanist Paul Dietrich Giseke classified the daisy family Compositae in the late 1700s, there are records of daisies dating back to ancient Egypt, where people used these flowers to treat coughs, bronchitis, inflammation, and wounds. Historians also said King Henry VIII ate daisies to help with stomach ulcers.
What Does This Flower Mean and Symbolise?
Daisies symbolise innocence and true love, and different colours have various meanings. People have also long associated this flower with myths, representing childbirth and motherhood. Moreover, we link it to the Virgin Mary, and two friends can give it to each other to emphasise secrecy.
Tips for Growing Daisies in the Garden
We can find daisies in gardens, lawns, meadows, and roads. While these flowers look good in our outdoor spaces, we should be careful about planting them because some are weeds. Some garden daisies include Ox eye, Shasta, Gerbera, and English.
We can start seeds indoors in spring or outdoors after the last frost, but plants grown from seed won’t bloom until the incoming season.
2. Sweet Pea Flowers
While sweet peas are related to beans and legumes, these flowers are inedible and toxic to humans and animals. They’re native to Italy and the Mediterranean and have a sweet fragrance. They’re also available in various colours and bloom in spring to early summer.
A Brief History of the Sweet Peas
Sicilian monk Francis Cupani discovered sweet peas in Southern Italy in the late 1600s. He then sent the seeds to botanists in Amsterdam and England, which led to their spread around Europe. In the 1800s, Scottish nursery proprietor Henry Eckard began creating more prominent and beautiful sweet pea hybrids.
What Does This Flower Represent?
Sweet peas can symbolise goodbye, gratitude, friendship, and good wishes. In France, these flowers are a traditional wedding gift for good luck. Some cultures also believe that sweet peas have magical properties.
Tips for Growing Sweet Peas in the Garden
Sweet peas only last a year, thrive when exposed to direct sunlight, and are planted in rich, well-draining soil. Depending on the type, they can climb and grow to six to ten feet.
Plant enthusiasts can grow sweet peas indoors before moving them outside. We can also support these flowers by providing them with a trellis, arch, or fence. Moreover, if we live in areas with frequent frosting, we can plant them towards the end of winter or the beginning of spring when the soil is dry enough to handle. Remember that sweet peas bloom during spring and don’t do well in hot weather.
Conclusion
We understand the significance of someone’s birthday. Our birthday flowers can help party guests and loved ones create a memorable experience for the celebrant.
Welch offers birthday flowers in the UK to help customers create a memorable celebration. We also offer same-day delivery. Shop now!
