Flower Stories: 3 Spring Flowers We Love
Spring flowers are everywhere: violets, primroses, daffodils, tulips... And just in case you hadn't already noticed, here at Heathcote & Ivory we are a lot about flowers. Find flower extracts in many of our formulations, flower notes in our fragrances and flowers in many of our designs.
In this blog Heathcote & Ivory throws the spotlight on just three of spring's best loved blooms, starting with daffodils.
DAFFODILS
There are many varieties of the daffodil. Whether you're picking them up by the bunch from your local supermarket or picking from your own garden, this bright yellow trumpet-shaped spring flower may well be brightening up your home.
Fun Facts
If you're arranging daffodils with other flowers, be sure to soak them on their own for 12 hours first: their sap is toxic to other flowers. Did you know there were 17 flowers on the Duke and Duchess of Cambridges wedding cake, one of which was the daffodil. Oh, and there is even a daffodil society, The Daffodil Society, which is over 100 years old.
Myths & Legends
The daffodil's Latin name is Narcissus and one of the stories behind how it found this very name was down to its intoxicating scent. Narcissus comes from the Greek word narke, which means paralysis or anaesthetisation. Narcissi and Paper Whites with their miniature blooms have the most intoxicating of scents.
What daffodils mean
In the language of flowers the daffodil means friendship, chivalry, respect.
H&I Best Buy
Notes of sunny narcissus with bergamot, pink pepper and rose are found in the fresh and youthful fragrance for our Vintage & Co Patterns & Petals collection. Why not try our Vintage & Co Patterns & Petals Scented Drawer Liners - they make a great gift, or treat yourself and add a dose of spring to your chest of drawers.
PRIMROSES
Fun Facts
Pretty in a basket of spring flowers, primroses are part of the Primula family. The variety nestled along hedgerows and in woods at Easter time are known as Primula vulgaris meaning 'first rose' in Latin. It is also known as the English primrose.
Myths & Legends
Primroses and fairies have been linked in fairytales and legends in times gone by. You only have to think of the Primrose Flower Fairy, so beautifully imagined by the Victorian flower painter, Cicely Mary Barker.
What primroses mean
In the language of flowers the primrose symbolises youth or young love.
H&I Best Buy
We use Evening Primrose Oil in many of our formulations. Check out Sweet Pea & Honeysuckle Hand & Nail Cream which is blended with evening primrose oil and extracts of sweet pea, honeysuckle and patchouli.
TULIPS
Fun Facts
Where would a posy of spring flowers be without the tulip? Tulips first arrived in Holland in the sixteenth century from Turkey, when it was a part of the Ottoman Empire. Their popularity grew to such a level that they became used as currency until their popularity disappeared and the market for tulips took a nosedive.
Whilst the best place to see tulips in Holland, is Keukenhof Park, closer to home, head to Harrogate in Yorkshire. Wander through the fabulous annual display of tulips at the Harrogate Valley Gardens. Whilst you're in the area, nip over to RHS Garden Harlow Carr where you will find over 100 different species in full bloom at Tulip Fever. Oh and yes, as the tulip fans among you will know, there's a there's a Tulip Society too.
What tulips mean
In the language of flowers, tulips mean perfect love red tulips are for true love whilst purple tulips symbolise royalty.
Myths & Legends
If perfect love is the symbol of the tulip, the story behind stemmed from a tragic love story where a love-struck prince was falsely informed that his beloved had died of a sudden illness. He took his own life and where every drop of his own blood fell, a scarlet tulip grew.
