Flower Power

Mother Nature paints perfect petals for Easter, Mother’s Day
Mary Solberg
04/05/2019

Spring sprang on March 20, so the next two months will bring an abundance of flowers, even in chilly northwestern Pennsylvania.
And with Easter and Mother’s Day approaching, that means many of us will be buying pretty petals as gifts or decorations. Last year, according to the Society of American Florists, consumers spent $1.3 billion on flowers for Easter alone.
That’s an amazing figure in itself, considering Easter is not even close to being the No. 1 holiday for florists and floral purchases. That would be Valentine’s Day, of course.
Jennifer Sparks, vice president of marketing for the national floral organization, shares 2018 research that puts Mother’s Day among the top three flower occasions, after Valentine’s Day and Christmas/Chanukah.
“Flowers are one of God’s beautiful creations, and now we know, through research, that their benefits go beyond just beauty. They are actually beneficial to our overall health and well-being,” Sparks tells Faith magazine.
She points to research that shows flowers provide a sense of peace and calm.
Recent findings from the University of North Florida indicate that 68 percent of people feel stress on a weekly basis, and 32 percent are stressed every day. No surprise, then, that a full 80 percent of people say receiving flowers makes them happy. Additionally, 88 percent say giving flowers makes them happy.
“Flowers are more than a gift,” Sparks says. “They are a genuine expression of compassion and care.”
So this Easter (April 21), and Mother’s Day (May 12), be prepared to share the gift of God’s nature with families and friends.

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Most popular Easter flower purchases:

Mixed flowers
Daffodils/iris/tulips
Roses
Carnations
Chrysanthemums/daisies
Lilies

Most popular Easter flowering houseplant purchases:

Lilies
Azaleas
African Violets

Popular Mother’s Day flowers:

Callas
Freesia
Gerberas
Hydrangeas
Irises
Lilies
Orchids
Roses
Tulips

Popular Mother’s Day plants:

Azaleas
Chysanthemums
Dish gardens
Gerberas
Hydrangea
Kalanchoe
Orchids

Mom’s favorite bold, vibrant color combinations for flowers:

Hot pink and orange
Citron and purple
Shades of orange hues, tangerine to peach
Purple accented with bright green
Purple and lime green and magenta
Pink, coral and turquoise together

Did you know?

Pink is the traditional favorite color for Mother’s Day flowers.
In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday in May as National Mother’s Day.
The National Animal Poison Control Center states that certain types of lilies can cause renal failure in cats that have ingested any part of the lily. (No problem for other pets or humans.)

Source: Society of American Florists