I enjoyed going to the garden department of our home/hardware store. I wasn't there to purchase anything, unless I saw something that was hard to leave behind. We will be going back to see what is left, as I would like to fill a few planters on the deck. Here's what I saw that day. The first are the Calla Lilies. I had never seen the pink and yellow ones before. According to the name on the pot, this one was Zazu Calla Lilly
I loved the pink ones especially, but both were very pleasing.
Unfortunately I didn't get the name of the yellow.
According to what I read on its symbolism, Calla Lilies are often associated with purity, divinity and marital bliss, making them a popular choice for weddings and other special occasions. My Mother’s favorite flowers were always the white Calla Lilies. I am sharing a photo from Mum and Dad’s wedding day in 1946. She has a bouquet of them as you can see.
She is also holding a horseshoe with what looks like a black cat attached. In the UK, horseshoes, black cats and chimney sweeps are all considered symbols of good luck, and the bride often carries at least one of these on her wedding day. It is believed they bring prosperity and a happy marriage. On my wedding day I carried a horseshoe with a chimney sweep given to me by one of my relatives.
Back to the flowers!
The purple flower below, as many may already know, is the Garden petunia.
These are the Cape Marigold.
Pansies always seem to be popular.
This one has an unusual name, at least to me. It is called Cheddar Pink, a species of Dianthus.
Here we have Big leaf lupines. I am leaving links on each flower's name if you would like to find out more.
Next is a Cape Marguerite, also called Cape Daisies.
That's about all of the flowers that I was interested in. Last two photos are the information signs. You can click on any of these photos if you want to see more detail, especially the ones below.
A helpful guideline.
I hope you have enjoyed these. The weather can't make up it's mind today. We have had rain and now the sun is shining. It's going to get up to 80 (typing this on the 3rd).
As always, thanks so much for visiting and I hope your
day is a great one.
I loved seeing these! They were just about as good as being there and actually seeing them, your shots are so brilliant and clear. What a beautiful wedding photo of your Mom & Dad. I did not know about these good luck symbols being carried by the bride. I had the usual "Something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue". Did you buy the pretty pink Calla Lily? Your Mom's look like they are white.
ReplyDeleteGreat Ginny, I didn't buy anything, but it was such a wonderful visual for me, and I even enjoyed the gentleman who transported the flowers that we met briefly - I mentioned him in my last around-and-about. A hard-working man who unloaded many of these plants without much help as far as I could see and who drives all over the Eastern Seaboard putting in many hours on the road away from his family. So many people involved so that we can have the opportunity to buy their flowers.
DeleteI know the something old, something blue which originated in England. The tradition comes from a 19th-century English rhyme: "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a sixpence in her shoe". Something old represents continuity and the bride's past. Something new symbolizes optimism for the future. Something borrowed represents borrowed happiness from a happily married couple or bride and lastly, something blue traditionally symbolizes love, purity, and fidelity.
Lastly, Mum's wedding flowers were white. She loved those and I don't ever remember there being any other colors back in the day. Maybe in other parts of the world? I don't really know.
Thanks for mentioned the rhyme, it sent me on my usual curiosity journal to find out more :)
Almost forgot, the tradition of a sixpence in the shoe is a British tradition, where the father of the bride would traditionally place a sixpence in his daughter's shoe before she walked down the aisle, symbolizing good luck and prosperity. I love learning about these old traditions.
DeleteI didn't know about the lilies or those good luck symbols for a wedding. Love the old photo! I can hardly wait to see which flowers you will plant this spring. We just got snow here and my planter boxes were sold last spring. So many pretty flowers to choose from. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Rita, I will probably wait until April is out before planting anything. I've been caught by the frost many times in my early days, and now I wait until the last frost has gone. More snow? Gosh, I hope we don't get any more, but it would be a rare even if we did. Hope you see your own spring flowers soon.
DeleteLovely to see your parents, the lilies look very nice indeed such a beautiful flower and the others are doing ok too.
ReplyDeleteThank you Margaret, I appreciate that. This is a great time of the year to enjoy the new flowers. Raining today!
DeleteThese flowers are almost TOO beautiful! 😄
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean Sandi :)
DeleteLovely photo of your Mom and her flowers! The colorful calla lilies are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteTake care, Happy Friday! Have a great weekend!
Thank you Eileen, when I found it in my parents photo boxes, it had faded quite a bit but I still remember those smiles. Now thankfully they are digitally safe :) You take care, Happy Friday and have a great weekend also :)
DeleteI am flabbergasted at the horseshoe carry for a bride. I like to hear others customs and now we can due to the www... now my question is, is it a real horseshoe? they are pretty heavy. the flowers are gorgeous and I don't remember ever seeing Cali lilies other than in movies and photos. not in any of the three states I lived in.. I need to go get my moss rose and see what we have here
ReplyDeleteI should have been a little clearer Sandra, the horseshoes were cut out of cardboard and covered with a pretty silvery-like paper with decorations added. Calla lilies are gorgeous! I would love to see them grow wild. I'd love to see photos of your moss rose :)
DeleteWe have never bought our plants at a large department store. We enjoy going to a couple of the local greenhouses and over the years have come to know the owners and they greet us by name. We much prefer to leave our money with local farmers - our neighbours almost - than contribute once again to the coffers of a large, corporate business.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you David :) The main reason we visited was because we were driving by and I was curious after seeing the delivery outside. Unfortunately, there aren't many family-owned greenhouses around here. I can think of two but the closest and one we visit regularly throughout summer is a family-run business, a definite favorite. It has grown considerably over the years. This is where we do 99 percent of our garden shopping. Once the farmer's markets start up again, we will be getting all our produce from them and giving our business to the local farmers. I always look forward to that :)
DeleteDenise, it is indeed wonderful to see such vibrant colors even if only indoors since it will be a while until there are any outdoors in this area. We also have a forecast of rain all weekend☔️
ReplyDeleteI agree and we have rain also. It poured down quite heartily in the wee hours. I am eager to see the dogwoods bloom now but that could be a little while longer :)
DeleteThe flowers are gorgeous and the pink calla is a really zinging colour.
ReplyDeleteChimney sweeps can be hired to shake hands with the bride, to bring luck.
I remember our chimney sweep when I was a little girl. We were often told to go outside and let him know if we could see the brush sticking out of the chimney. I wonder how many weddings he was invited to :)
DeleteLove them all. I have some of the lupines that my dad had given me years ago. Unfortunately there aren't as many as there used to be because something got into the front bed where they are and started choking out other things that were planted there.
ReplyDeleteI also used to have 2 large clumps of that dianthus. They were growing on the side of my house.
Lovely to have that connection with your dad :) and am happy you have some left. The dianthus must look very pretty in your garden bed.
DeleteLove all of the flower pictures, I have not seen a pink Calla Lily before, beautiful. Your photos gave me my flower fix this morning, it will be a few more weeks before flowers for outside planting will be on display here. I carried a horseshoe when I got married, here in Canada. My great Aunt sent it to me from England.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad my photos gave you your flower fix. I need those too :) Lovely that your Aunt sent you a horseshoe from England. So nice to look forward to your first flowers.
DeleteIt's still a little dicey to do that here, but oh, how lovely you are ready! And the wedding photo is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThank you Jeanie :) I just came back and saw all the tulips blooming also. Always a lovely sight :)
DeleteWhat a happy post. Love the photo from your mum and dad's wedding day. What a treasure. All the beautiful flowers are sweet to see. Happy Friday to you.
ReplyDeleteOld photos, and new, are the true treasures. Thank you Ellen so glad you enjoyed. Happy Friday to you too :)
DeleteHow could you leave any of these behind. They have an excellent variety of plants.
ReplyDeleteIt was hard but I was always told not to plant until the end of April because frosts are still possible. I am waiting until the end of the month :)
DeleteI have expanded one of my garden beds so I'll have more places to plant sun loving perennials when we have the weather when I can garden. That dianthus reminded me that I need to consider it for planting there.
ReplyDeleteWonderful Marcia :) It will be great to get out in the garden again :)
DeleteLovely old photo and gorgeous flowers
ReplyDeleteThank you Christine, much appreciated :)
DeleteDenise your photos are absolutely stunning!!! I almost lean in to give them a sniff
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed reading about UK's lucky items for a bride.
We expect 90 degrees today JUST too dang hot for April
See you at the bird feeders tomorrow
Hugs Cecilia
What a sweet thing to say, thank you so much Cecilia :) So glad you enjoyed those traditions. 90 degrees and yes indeed, way too hot for April? Ours was getting up to 80 but no humidity. See you at the bird feeders my friend and sending hugs :)
DeleteBeautiful flowers! I think I'm going to try everything new from seeds this year. The anticipation is fun. Along with the plants sprouting from the warm soil.
ReplyDeleteI will have some roots for some colorful day lilies though. That will be new in our yard.
I would love to spend time just walking through garden shops!
That's a good idea, if you have any tips I would love to know them. Growing from seeds really appeals to me. I love day lilies! It's fun to walk through a garden shop and I don't do it nearly as often as I would like :)
DeleteWhat a sweet wedding photo! And the flower pictures are lovely!
ReplyDeleteThank you Linda, very much appreciated :)
DeleteA beautiful post and how lovely to have the wedding photo of your parents. Have a good weekend Diane
ReplyDeleteThank you Diane, I feel very fortunate to have my parents wedding photos. You have a good weekend also :)
DeleteSuch beautiful photos.
ReplyDeletewww.rsrue.blogspot.com
Sweet of you to say. Thank you so much Regine :)
DeleteWhat a beautiful wedding photo. Just love it.
ReplyDeleteHow kind of you to say Gigi, thank you :)
DeleteGorgeous flowers and lovely wedding photo :-D 2 of my 6 cats are black! I need some luck just now!
ReplyDeleteThank you Ananka :) How wonderful that you have 6 cats and 2 are black. I hope they you get the good luck you need.
DeleteLindas flores. Me gusto saber de ellas. Te mando un beso.
ReplyDeleteMe alegro mucho que te hayan gustado. Te mando un beso.
DeleteThe colour of those lilies is wonderful! The Cheddar Pink is so called as its name refers to the fact that it is native to the Cheddar Gorge, in Somerset, England. It’s actually a protected species. I think it’s rather lovely.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful weekend! 😁
Thank you for that very interesting information about Cheddar Gorge Sal. I found that very interesting. I wish you a wonderful weekend also :)
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