![]() Bouquet: noun meaning an attractively arranged bunch of flowers. Introduced from Old French bochet, from bois (“woods”) and Medieval Latin boscus (“grove”). Flower arranging is one of my all time favourite things to do in the whole wide world. Its up there beside eating chocolate, reading Harry Potter, chopping herbs and falling asleep in the sun. I'm a very exciting person evidently. I’ve been doing some reading and it appears that it is an archaic hobby. Its not really surprising as flowers stand the test of time, they are always beautiful, no fashion trend or passing fad. Nevertheless i found out some interesting things and wanted to share my findings in this flower filled space. I imagine that from the very first time a human set eyes on a flower, they were compelled to stop and admire it, smell and then eventually pick it. Its irresistible! I wonder what flower it was? The oldest evidence of formal arranging into vases comes from ancient Egypt, and records of flower arrangements date all the way back to 2500 BC. The sacred lotus was widely used and is depicted in hieroglyphs from this era. The Egyptian also used herbs, palms, irises, anemones, and narcissus. Amazing that these flowers still thrive today! Flower-arranging as an art form was brought to Japan by Buddhist monks, who learned it from the Chinese. In ancient China, flower-arranging developed into a highly refined art form, based on the principle that all life is sacred, including the life of plants; therefore cut flowers were used sparingly in very carefully planned arrangements. I do sometimes feel a bit bad for cutting flowers as i am of the same opinion but i still do it...Flowers were a traditional ritual offering among Buddhists and they still are. My time in Asia confirms this- garlands of marigolds adorn shrines and temples all over India, Thailand and Cambodia. Hindus offer flowers as puja as well, alongside fruits and small trinkets. The ancient Japanese practise of ikebana ( i have touched on this before here) still survives today and the oldest known book on flower-arranging was printed by the Japanese in 1445. Simplicity and linear form are key characteristics of ikebana, features that have hugely influenced Western flower arranging since the late 19th century. In Europe, flower arranging as a formal art was first documented among the Dutch, who created beautiful tumbling, flowing arrangements of flowers for paintings. Many of the famous Dutch masters such as Rembrandt, whose paintings are displayed in the finest galleries the world over, feature large flower arrangements. In fact, many florists used these still lives as inspiration for their own design work. In the 18th century, arrangements were used to decorate the houses of the wealthy families and the aristocracy. I'm glad that flowers can be enjoyed by everyone now and not just those privileged enough to afford them. A stroll on a summers day will gift said stroller with an abundance of wild blooms, all for free. Blessings indeed. Flower symbolism is of course common in many cultures and the meanings can be conflicting, odd and slightly random. The language of flowers continues to fascinate me, i just wish there were ore flowers that had meanings i could apply to my own life. I particularly love that in China, certain flowers symbolise seasons: white plum blossoms for winter, peach and cherry blossoms for spring, lotus for summer, and chrysanthemums for autumn. I think the sunflower would have to symbolise summer here in Scotland or possibly daisies. Or sweet peas. I love summer. Almost everyday i can make a new bouquet or arrangement using wild foraged blooms and few garden finds to adorn our house. The custom of bunched flowers or bouquets is an ancient one; since medieval times flowers have been worn around the head or on the body by women who believed that the aromatic bunches of garlic, herbs and spices would ward off evil spirits. In the 18th century, the era of the language of flowers, women carried nosegays or tussie mussies as a fashion statement (and likely to ward of the stench!). The term “nosegay” derives from Middle English and basically means an ornament that appeals to the nose. These are small posies of flowers also known as taking bouquets due to the messages behind each of the blooms. It was perhaps then that giving bunches of flowers (in western culture) as gifts began; tussie mussies were of course passed between secret lovers as a token of their sentiments. The bouquets were traditionally arranged in a posey style then wrapped in a cone shaped container or doily with a chain to allow the recipient to carry and show it off. To this day, florists still wrap flowers in a cone shaped paper, in fact i just did it today. A bunch of flowers, when wrapped, becomes a gift and in my experience people are much more likely to purchase flowers arranged and shrouded in paper. The history behind wedding bouquets is largely the same: women carried them to ward of evil spirits and mask th smell of body odour. Apparently some edible flowers such as dill and marigold were added to the bridal bouquets and then served at the wedding feast as an aphrodisiac? I have also read that brides were viewed to be very lucky so guests would literally try to rip parts of her dress off! The tradition of throwing the bouquet was literally born out of necessity for the poor bride to protect herself, so she chucked her flowers to distract the frenzied crowds trying to tear some luck from her body. Like throwing meat for a pack of lions. Yikes.
In my own flower news (my most important and indeed only news really), i planted some seeds weeks ago, when i got home from Canada- I have 6 strong sunflower plants (though not enough sun for them to flourish i fear) a few nigella and scabiosa plus maybe 1 zinnia. Something ate the former. Also, i have some little cactus in my room and one has suddenly, after almost 3 years, decided to grow a few white flowers. How sweet. The wild yarrow is flowering and rosebay willowherb is starting to explode and shower the roadsides with magenta spires. Its not called fireweed (it spreads like a wildfire) for nothing. Himalayan balsam is also flowering and marsh orchid, elderflower, dog rose, alchemilla, cow parsley, clover, vetch, corncockle, knapweed, meadowsweet, feverfew (my favourite) some red campion, towering foxgloves, buttercups and daisies of course plus many others. Flower safari season is upon us! As i run each morning my eyes scour the hedgerows for new growth, familiar blooms and unknown flowers alike; the difference a few days makes is quite astonishing. I rarely make it home without a few precious stems clutched in my hands or tucked into my hair. I’ve taken to keeping some scissors in my bag when i'm out, so i'm always ready to cut anything i feel like. Perhaps its my own paranoia but i cant help but feel like people are judging me for cutting flowers, like i am stealing them. They are WILD people! I take only a few from each patch and i am always mindful of what i pick. I promise. Except if i spot a stray rose poking through someone’s hedge, in that case i will almost certainly cut it so i’m definitely guilty. I'm under a flower spell, i can’t help it. I dont want to help it. I like to keep lots of little arrangements placed all around the house while there is such an abundance to enjoy; this season is fleeting so best make the most of it. I have started helping out at the flower farm in the west end again, picking and arranging once a week. They grow all my favourite classic style blooms totally organically and feed the profits back into the community. I could happily pick flowers all day as long as i got to arrange them as well. Most of these photos are from what i picked there. My friend emailed me today and she said: "just follow the flowers” which i deem to be excellent advice indeed. So i will. Who knows where they will lead.
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