Flower Information
on Sweet Sentiments

The following flowers are included in this selection:
Common Name(s): Iris
Botanical Name(s): Iris reticulata
Other Name(s): Dutch Iris
Description: Three inner petals that stand upward when in blossom and three outer petals that tend to drop downward.
Colors: white, yellow, blue, violet
Season: All year round
Meaning: Named after the Greek goddess of the rainbow. Your friendship means the world to me, faith, hope, wisdom.
Zodiac: No
Flower of the Month: No
Bloom Size: 1 to 3 inches in diameter
Color Pattern: solid, striped, spotted, bi-colored
Facts: The Iris is the National Emblem of France.
Special Handling: Vase life of 2 to 4 days. Flower buds can be forced open by peeling back the protective leaf and gently tapping the stem. This should make the flower open.

Common Name(s): Lily
Botanical Name(s): Liluim
Other Name(s): Asiatic Lily
Description: A cup shaped flower with clusters of 4 to 6 buds on each stem.
Colors: white, red, pink, yellow, orange, bi-colored
Season: All year round
Meaning: Most colors have different meanings. Yellow means gay and walking on air. White means purity, virginity, majesty.
Zodiac: Virgo
Flower of the Month: No
Bloom Size: 4 to 6 inches in diameter
Color Pattern: solid, striped, spotted, bi-color
Facts: The lily represents pure and virginal love in the Christian faith. Other popular types of lilies are the Oriental lily, Tiger Lily and Easter Lily each of which have their own special characteristics.
Special Handling: Vase life of 4 to 14 days, pollen stamens will permanently stain if it comes in direct contact with clothing. Remove stamens carefully. The use of gloves is recommended. Flowers may blossom at different times. Remove blossom when it becomes unattractive.

Common Name(s): Carnation
Botanical Name(s): Dianthus Caryophyllus
Other Name(s): Carn, Chinese Pink
Description: A delicate multi-petaled single flower atop a long stem.
Colors: pink, white, red, yellow, orange, green
Season: All year round
Meaning: Fascination, admiration, pure love, my heart yearns for you, a mother's love.
Zodiac: Cancer
Flower of the Month: January
Bloom Size: 18 to 24 inches in height
Color Pattern: solid, striped, bi-color, frosted
Facts: Carnations symbolize many things. Pink carnations are said to have first appeared on Earth when a tear fell from the Virgin Mary's eye when Jesus Christ was carrying the cross. According to Christian legend, the flower was said to have sprung up from the Earth when her tear hit the ground, therefore the pink carnation represents a Mother's undying love.
Special Handling: Can last up to three weeks. Very durable.

Common Name(s): Rose
Botanical Name(s): Rosa
Other Name(s): Sweetheart Rose, Hybrid Tea Rose
Description: A multi-petaled blossom that ranges in size. Comes as a single blossom atop a thorny stem ranging from 12 to 40 inches high. Stem size and blossom count varies depending on the variety.
Colors: hues of red, yellow, pink, purple, orange, white
Season: All year round
Meaning: All roses are symbolic for love, however each color has a separate meaning. Red means love, respect, courage. Pink means grace, perfect happiness. Dark pink means gratitude. Light pink means admiration, sympathy. White means innocence, purity, secrecy, I'm worthy of you, you're heavenly, humility. Yellow means undying lover, platonic love, friendship. Orange means passion, desire. Blue means extraordinary, mystery. Red and White means unity.
Zodiac: No
Flower of the Month: June
Bloom Size: On average 2 to 5 inches in diameter
Color Pattern: solid, bi-color
Facts: Many rose varieties produce a sweet fragrance. Rose perfumes are made by steam distilling crushed rose petals which produces essential oils. Very popularly used in Persia, Bulgaria, Iran and Germany. The rose is the National flower of England, the provincial flower of Alberta and the State flower of Iowa, North Dakota, Georgia and New York. Portland, Oregon holds an annual Rose Festival. The rose is often used as a symbol for the Virgin Mary. The most popular and well known cut flower. Used in floral arrangements, wedding and corsage work by florists. Red roses are the most sought after flower for a Valentine's Day gift. Monk's cultivated rose bushes after the crusades for medicinal uses. Rose water was successful in curing ailments such as trembling, constipation, drunkenness, insomnia and skin and throat infections. There is no such rose with a true blue or a true black color. Black roses are generally a deep, deep red where as blue roses are typically purple.
Special Handling: Vase life of 7 to 10 days. Thorns should not be removed from stem as they may cause open wounds to the stem where bacteria can gather and shorten the life of the flower. Roses are extremely thirsty flowers. Check water levels frequently.