Flowers
Flower is the part of a plant; they have various different meanings in different cultures. The cultural meaning of colors also strongly affects the choice and use of flowers. People often prefer flowers that are associated with their cultural group or country, and various colors may have special meanings of luck, love, life or death and other basic human traits. The holidays and events for which flowers are used also vary. To some countries or people, a flower such as a red rose might mean love, but to others it might be considered indecent or improper. In many Asian cultures white represents death; it is at the same time a symbol of purity and innocence in many European and American cultures.
For centuries, flowers, herbs and a variety of plants have given much pleasure and contentment to people of all the nations, because their beauty has the unique ability to bring cheer and delight when someone is ill or downhearted. Their fragrances can be used to make superb perfumes, delicate flora can be used for certain medicines, body lotions, body toners, facial cleanser and foods, their lovely appearance mesmerizes and their smells can easily change moods.
In the modern world of today, people have sought ways to cultivate, buy, wear or otherwise be around blooming plants, partly because of their attractive appearance and smell. Flowers are now in great demand and people therefore grow flowers around their homes, dedicate entire parts of their living space to flower gardens, pick wildflowers, or buy flowers from florists who depend on an entire network of commercial growers and shippers to support their trade.
There are some interesting facts about flowers that they provide several important foods and spices. Flower vegetables include broccoli, cauliflower artichoke and zucchini. The most expensive spice is saffron, consists of dried stigmas of a crocus. Other flower spices are cloves, capers, mustard, aniseed and cumin. Hundreds of fresh flowers are edible but few are widely marketed as food.
Flowers are often used to add color and flavor to salads and also squash flowers are dipped in breadcrumbs. Edible flowers include nasturtium, chrysanthemum, carnation, cattail, honeysuckle, chicory, cornflower, and sunflower. Some edible flowers are sometimes candied such as daisy and rose. Flowers can also be made into herbal teas. Dried flowers such as chrysanthemum, rose, jasmine, and chamomile are infused into tea both for their fragrance and medical properties. Sometimes, they are also mixed with tea leaves for the added fragrance.
Marigold flowers are fed to chickens to give their egg yolks a golden yellow color, which consumers find more desirable. Bee Pollen, pollen collected from bees, is considered a healthy food by some people. Honey consists of bee-processed flower nectar and is often named for the type of flower, e.g. orange blossom honey and clover honey. Oil of different flowers such as jasmine used in body massage also smells of jasmine relaxes mind. Rose water is good for eyes.
Around the world, people use flowers for a wide range of events and functions. They are used as a token of love, esteem and sympathy. Some of the more common examples include: Wedding flowers for bridal party, engagement parties, decorations for halls, floral jewelry, decoration for broom’s car, welcome home parties, birthday parties, home and garden decoration etc.
