Garden Office Blog

Floral Fidelity

Floral Fidelity

By Francesca McGlone on 26th August, 2010

Flowers are entwined within various facets of life. We rely on them as a means of enhancing mood and expressing a range of feelings. A bouquet delivered to the door can demonstrate love, sympathy, remorse, gratitude or celebration. Their beauty is universally understood and valued.

The celebratory use of flowers is common. Weddings are characterised by floral displays, which play a central role in the ceremony, from hair accessories and confetti to the bride's bouquet and the strewn decoration that graces the church and guest areas. Bouquets are an essential part of a wedding and were traditionally used to ward of evil spirits with their strong perfumes, cleansing the air, just as incense is used in churches. Flowers also symbolise fertility, made more fitting through the prospect of children. The traditional tossing of the bridal bouquet symbolises the birth of a new union and reflects the flourishing cycle of flowers. Generally a carnation represents devoted love, which explains their appearance on the groom's suit. The colours also contain specific meanings, for instance a pink carnation denotes a woman's love, while a red carnation symbolises admiration. A flower is a connotative subject. Roses are strongly linked with romance, daffodils with spring and chivalry, while lilies are associated with innocence and beauty. It could be said that flowers have their own language.

Flowers are present at pivotal events. They are used to commemorate the memory of a loved one and are a token of deep love and respect. Archaeologists have discovered Neanderthal skeletons buried with flower pollen in Iraq. This shows that flowers are an established part of the burial ritual and have long since captured our affection and communicated unspoken emotions.

Flowers also appear in a range of art forms, from paintings, tapestries and ceramics to music and books. They are also a popular image for tattoos, as they become a permanent mark of beauty on the skin. Their fragrances are also incorporated into perfume, as various flowers are mixed to reproduce mood enhancing effects and increase attractiveness. Jewellery design is inspired by floral shapes and colours, as their intricate stems and delicate petals provide the perfect shapes for ornate adornments.

Scientists have estimated that there are 270,000 species of flowers that exist in the 21st century. Therefore the floral pool, in which we can extract a selection of arrangements and ideas, is vast. Flowers appear in all varieties and are located all over the world. Planting and arranging flowers is a way of creating a fresh, fragrant environment, in which work is associated with bursts of colour.

The presence of flowers that surround a garden office will breathe life and energy into the working day. In the winter months, species of flowers such as the Snowdrop, Witch Hazel and Wintersweet will replace the colour of an otherwise muted garden, ensuring that the outside space stays vibrant. By placing an office building in the grounds of a garden, the timeless benefits of flowers can be experienced as we reaffirm our floral affinity.


Category:  Garden Designs

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