| Sending flowers to someone is a delicate matter. It is | | | | grows mainly in the Mediterranean area but it can also |
| not the same to send flowers to your friend, to your | | | | be found in many parts of Asia. Flower breeders have |
| mother, to your lover or best of all, to your enemies. | | | | managed to develop a double and even a triple row of |
| Flowers are a true expression of emotion; in times of | | | | petals which make this flower look like a golden ball. |
| sadness and sorrow, people purchase flowers to | | | | A very peculiar named flower is the Mum, pompon or |
| show their support and sympathy. Other people pick | | | | spider mum (Chrysanthemum morifolium). Chinese |
| them up from fields, gardens or from their neighbor's | | | | mythology tells us a bit about the main qualities of this |
| house. Deciding which flowers will be the most | | | | beautiful flower, which has been cultivated for more |
| appropriate can be very difficult. In order to choose the | | | | than twenty five hundred years. The Chinese use it to |
| right ones, we need to know a little bit about the | | | | elaborate wine and medicines. They believed that the |
| person who is going to receive them. And also about | | | | mum gave longevity and strength, and therefore it was |
| the flower itself, its origins and the myths associated | | | | a very precious flower to develop. Botanically speaking |
| with it. This is essential to communicate your feelings | | | | it belongs to the family of the Chrysanthemum, which |
| by sending flowers. | | | | in Latin means cheerfulness and optimism. In Japan |
| There are some mythical flowers that due the nature | | | | there is a festival of happiness to commemorate this |
| of their origin posses charismatic powers, such as the | | | | flower. Even NASA was studying this plant among |
| Peruvian Lily (Alstroemeriaceae). Many people often | | | | others in order to clean air in space stations due to its |
| mistake this flower for an orchid, but it is not related to | | | | quality of absorbing carbon dioxide and transforming it |
| the lily or the orchid. Dutch flower breeders hybridized | | | | into oxygen. In addition to this our chrysanthemum can |
| the Peruvian Lily as a garden flower and cut flower in | | | | photosynthesized well with very little light. |
| the 20th century due to its 10 lovely and bright colors | | | | Another mythical flower is the Iris (Iridaceae). The |
| that can be seen in each stem. A contrasting | | | | Greeks called this flower a messenger of God, the |
| combination of yellows, pinks, oranges, purples, and | | | | personification of a rainbow. Egyptians also painted this |
| whites makes a the flower beautifully unique | | | | exotic flower on a temple in the year 1479 BC and |
| Another mythical flower is a Larkspur (Delphinium | | | | Louis VII used it in his banner crusade, getting the name |
| belladonna). According to myth this species has its | | | | of "fleur of Louis." The French translation for the flower |
| origin during the ancient battle at Troy. The legend | | | | of Louis later became the fleur of lis. A well known |
| says that the armor of a soldier was given to Ulysses | | | | symbol for Romans, Egyptians and Moors, the |
| instead of Ajax. Then he killed himself and the blood | | | | Victorians give it the meaning of hope and power. The |
| that ran from his sword blossomed into a Larkspur. | | | | myths say that the iris links the gods to humans. This |
| The botanic name for this flower is "Delphinium | | | | plant can be found in a wide variety of environments, |
| belladonna" which in Ancient Greek means dolphin for | | | | including cold regions and hot desserts of Europe, Asia, |
| the shape of it. This flower contains a beautiful mixture | | | | Africa and America. The iris has a very peculiar shape |
| of bluish colors: purple, blue, pink and lavender. Many | | | | that expands from a narrow base to a wide top with |
| parts of this beautiful plant contain an alkaloid that it is | | | | three petals making a symmetrical shape. The flower |
| very poisonous and harmful if eaten. It can cause | | | | has a characteristic way of pollinating that allows |
| death if eaten in large amounts. So we have to be | | | | insects to enter and pollinate the flower without rubbing |
| careful what we do with this exotic plant. | | | | off the pollen into the stigma of the same flower. |
| The Daffodil, narcissus, jonquil (Narcissus) is a mythical | | | | Above we have described a few popular flowers to |
| yellow and white flower with 6 petals and the shape | | | | gift, a little bit about their origins, their relation to humans, |
| of a star. Greek mythology tells us how this flower | | | | and their various qualities. So next time you're going to |
| came to be born. The narcissus, its botanic name, is | | | | give flowers to someone, think carefully about what |
| associated with our Greek hero Narcissus, who took | | | | sort of message you would you like to send. Whether |
| his name because of his beauty and pride. Narcissus | | | | you want to express love, sympathy, fear or beauty, |
| had a twin sister who he fall in love with and when she | | | | there is always a flower that will suit your needs. It is a |
| died he was seeing her in his own reflection in the | | | | matter of knowing them just a little bit better in order |
| water. Narcissus' beauty was unique and comparable | | | | to express what you want to say. |
| only to gods such us Bacchus or Apollo. This flower | | | | |