The Power of Red
Power Of Red
Holiday Bouquet
RED
FLOWERS.
Since
ancient man first broke the silence of pre-history and left his
mark on a cave wall, he has harnessed the power of red to represent
his most basic instinct and desire. Red has been splashed across
the pages of time in every imaginable way: on rock, wood, scroll,
parchment, tapestry, flag. It is the color of innumerable flower
varieties, precious stones, consuming fire, spilled blood.
Red is
a color that motivates, that charges the emotions & spurs the
carnal appetite. Red bespeaks love and lust, beauty and battle,
wealth and debt, power and danger, religious purity and the Devil
himself. It is an enigma of opposites, a never-ending source of
inspiration and fear. Nature throws red at the human eye from every
possible cranny of creation, not the least through vivid crimson
blooms that flower across the globe. These red flowers have been
variously used as mascots, decorations, and tokens of love. A red
flower can have innumerable associations; it is up to the bearer to
capture its power for his own.
Red
surrounds us,
but it never fails to leave an impression. It is most closely
associated with blood and thus with emotions that stir the blood:
anger, passion, and love. The color red alone has been shown to
stimulate a faster heartbeat and breathing. It has been
symbolically used in just about every human culture.
In Asian
cultures, it often represents the rich and powerful, good luck, or
success. In India it is the color of a bridal dress and is the
symbolic color for married women. The Russian words for “red” and
“beauty” come from the same root, and are nearly synonymous.
Western cultures have used red for the military, for royalty, for
emergency and medical personnel, and especially for love.
Even
religion does not allow red to be neutral: Christianity claims it
both as a liturgical color representing the fire of the Holy Spirit
at Pentecost and as the burning evil of Satan. Is it any wonder,
then, that red! flowers have captured mankind’s imagination for
centuries?
Legend has it that it was red clay into which God dipped His
fingers and formed Adam. Other legends speculate that red flowers
first appeared when the pure white blooms of Eden looked upon the
nakedness of Adam and Eve and blushed. The red flowers of the
Garden may have felt shame, but their progeny unabashedly filled
the globe with infinite shades and varieties of red flowers.
Some, like roses, grow on sturdy bushes or climb tall, displaying
each red flower in all its glory. Dahlias and gladioluses spike
their clusters of brilliant red blooms proudly into the sky. The
many red lily varieties spread huge colored blossoms to the
admiration of all who behold them. Smaller tulips have red flowers
that are no less vivid; they paint fields and hillsides with their
dots of bright color. Other flowers, like carnations and gerbera
daisies, are content in their simplicity and brighten the corners
of gardens and flower arrangements.
With such a wide variety of red flowers, choosing the perfect
species for an arrangement can be tricky. Take the size and shape
of the blooms into account, but don’t forget to consider the shade
of various flowers nor the message they can convey.
Modern
societies associate red flowers with friendship or romance.
Generally, the deeper the red the more romantic the sentiment, thus
the traditional St. Valentine’s day gift of a dozen deep-red roses.
A red rose denotes deepest love and respect and encourages deeper
commitment. Carnations and tulips are also traditional envoys of
love that can be incorporated into corsages and boutonnieres, or
given “live” as a potted plant.
Strength Of Red
In A Single Gerbera
But what if a
sweetheart deserves an expression of love that goes beyond the
traditional? Pick a red flower for its unique characteristics:
scent, texture, appearance, and singularity. Remember that red is
the spectral opposite of green, so even a single red blossom will
still be striking against a background of green stem and leaves.
Try a red lily for a fragrant display in the home that can later
be planted in the garden and enjoyed for years to come. A gerbera
daisy alone or in a small cluster can brighten any room, a red
dahlia can add intrigue and mystery to romance, and a protea can
add a quirky mid-western twist to a simple gift.
Some red flowers can tantalize the nose and the ears as well as the
eyes. Sweet William flowers cluster together and emit a spicy,
clove-like scent. They can add height to floral arrangements and
are also a splendid addition to the garden: the blooms are edible
and their nectar attracts even more colorful fauna to them, such as
birds, bees, and butterflies. The Sweet Pea plant lives up to its
name, with a sugary scent that is sure to beguile the senses.
Children are delighted by the Snapdragon’s red flower; not only do
its climbing blooms add height and dimension to a flower
arrangement, each blossom “snaps” when pinched, making an
entertaining clicking sound!
It can be elegant or simple, classic or modern, stunning or
understated, but a well-designed arrangement of red flowers never
fails to impress. Think about the message you wish to send with
flowers, and feel free to mix-and-match among traditional and
unorthodox blooms. Whether seeking to enchant a loved one, cheer a
sick bed, or congratulate a success, place a quick call to your
local florist. Your florist will know how to expertly arrange just
the right red flowers into a breath-taking arrangement that
captures your sentiments exactly. Contact Studio
Flowers today to
harness
the power of red for your
own.