One of the things I love most in life are flowers. Whether they are growing wild in nature, or strategically placed in a bouquet, they all give me some sort of happiness when I see them. I love the different colors, scents, and shapes that flowers come in. Here is my list of my top five favorite flowers of all time. You should definitely add these to your garden.
1. Chrysanthemum
Talk about a flower name that you had to spell check 10 times to make sure you didn't miss a letter! The name "chrysanthemum" actually means "golden flower" in Greek (‘chrys’ means golden and ‘anthemon’ means flower). Although yellow is the traditional color that most people will be most familiar with, they can also be found in other colors such as red, white and purple.
Chrysanthemum flowers have a number of meanings associated to them. Chrysanthemum symbolizes optimism, long life, fidelity and joy.
2. Water Lilies
Water Lilies are gorgeous flowers that come with a floating mat of foliage (lily pads). The bloom of a water lily typically lasts for around three days and then it is replaced. There are three kinds of water lilies- Nymphaeaceae or the common water lily, Nelumbo or Lotus and Nuphar Lutea, the yellow water lily. The water lily comes in a variety of colors and has a really good scent.
Water lilies symbolize sexuality, fertility, and creation. Specifically the white water lilies represent peace, purity, and pleasure.
3. Plumeria
Plumeria, is native to Brazil, Caribbean and Central America. Plumeria is known and celebrated for its intoxicating scent and beauty. Plumeria has medium-size flowers which come in a variety of vibrant colors such as pink, red, and yellow.
In Hawaiian culture plumeria represents positivity and a woman's relationship status. If she wears the flower behind her left ear it means she is taken, but if it is behind the right ear it means she is available.
4. Peony
The peony has noticeably lush and full blooms that adds to their immense beauty. The peony could grow for 100 years or more if planted in the right environment for it to flourish and requires little to no attention. So, it's a perfect flower for anyone that forgets to water their plants very often! Plus, with its easy maintenance it also has a wonderful and fragrant smell along with being visually appealing.
The peony is the state flower of Indiana and symbolizes romance, prosperity, and is regarded as an omen of good fortune and a happy marriage.
5. Tulip
There are around 75 wild species of tulips and 150 species in total with over 3,000 varieties.Tulips are perennials (a plant that lives for more than 2 years) and they bloom in spring, usually for only 3-7 days. The unique thing about tulips are, you can find them almost in every color you could ever imagine.
Tulips symbolize perfect love but like many flowers, different colors often carry their own significance. Red tulips are most strongly associated with true love, while purple symbolizes royalty.
