As a child, my grandfather used to take me on walks through his garden and instruct me to see the pretty flowers. It definitely left an imprint as my first sentence parroted his words and forty some years later, I still stop to take in the scent and beauty of flowers whenever possible.
It is also fun to do some research into the traditions associated with flowers. For Catholics, the rosary is a series of prayers recited while passing over beads. However, the original rosary was a crown of roses. We all know red roses are a symbol of love, but a variety of emotions has been assigned to each color.
Each of the states in the US has selected their representative flower, and in some cases there are multiple. Knowing the state flower and its history are often fun for eye-spy moments on road trips. The blue bonnets in Texas were planted along the state highways and offer a lovely pop of color while driving. One of my mother’s favorite flowers is the lilac, which conveniently blooms around mother’s day in New Jersey. It is also the state flower of New Hampshire where she travels a couple of times a year to visit friends. While the film Steel Magnolias with its beloved cast is set in Louisiana, magnolias are also the state flower of Mississippi.
And what better way to combine two of my passions than to point out which flowers are edible. I get a huge smile during that time of the year when the zucchini blossoms are in season. What could be more beautiful than a cheese plate garnished with pansies? And as I am writing this, I am thinking a hibiscus infused cocktail would be delicious.