Perky Daisies And Their Symbolism
Daisies are perky flowers that are considered relatively easy to grow. These perennials will brighten any garden. Daisies get their name from an Anglo Saxon term meaning “day’s eye”, referring to the way that the blossoms open and close for the sun each day. Daisies are symbolic of childhood innocence, modesty, and simplicity.
Daisies are great plants for novice gardeners because they are easy to grow. They are usually planted directly from seeds. They require direct exposure to sunlight for a minimum of six hours per day. They also need rich soil with adequate drainage in order to thrive. Daisies are hardy and forgiving plants that bloom repeatedly in one growing season. And if cared for properly they will be back season after season to brighten u your garden.
Besides being easy to grow, gardeners enjoy daisies because they symbolize childhood happiness. They often conjure up memories of childhood simplicity, quiete modesty, and Easter Sunday.
This vivacious wildflower’s botanical name is bellis. Bellis is said to be derived from a Roman myth about a Dryad who ruled the forests. The dryad was named Belides and in order to disguise herself from the god of the orchids she turned herself into the flower bellis.
Daisies, which look similar to a chrysanthemum, possess several characteristics brought over from Victorian times, including minimalism and reserved ness. Daisies are the flower behind the well known tale of a heartbroken girl picking petals off of blossoms while chanting, “He loves me, he loves me not.” The last petal left on the flower was said to predict whether the girl would be loved again by her suitor.
Another similar romantic anecdote describes a young girl picking daisies by the handful with her eyes shut. The story dictates that the number of blooms that she has in her hand when she open her eyes symbolizes the amount of years left until she will get married.
The daisy is also one of the most popular flowers mentioned by poets and writers. Besides its romantic and charming symbolism, the daisy is said to have medicinal and healing powers which made it a favorite of farmers.
Some people also believe that the daisy is a predictor of when spring will arrive. There is a story about an old English king who declared that summer had not officially arrived until a farmer could put his foot on twelve daisies at a time.
In medieval times farmers also believed that dreaming of daisies during the spring or summer months was supposed to bring good luck and prosperity. However, having a dream about daisies during the fall or winter was supposed to be a sign of bad luck and disaster. It was also considered bad luck to transplant daisies to an already existing garden.
King Henry III believed heavily in the healing and medicinal powers of daisies, Legend has it that he consumed platefuls of daisies daily in order to alleviate pains in his stomach cause by ulcers. It was also believed that crushing up daisy petals and drinking it in a mixture with wine for fifteen days would help cure insanity.
Giving or receiving a daisy is supposed to signify innocence, purity, and kindness. The color of the daisy being given also has significance. For example, a white daisy is supposed to signify reciprocated feelings of affection. However, a red daisy is supposed to be a sign of unknown beauty.
The daisy is a beautiful, simple flower with much sentiment and symbolism in its origin. Daisies have a long history and continue to be popular choices in gardens across the United States today.
