Summer Flower Guide

Summer is here! This also means vibrant flowers are in full bloom. From Dahlias with their bulbous symmetry to sunflowers with their cheery deposition, now is a great time to raid Trader Joe’s or any local flower shop. If you go to a farmers market, keep your eyes peeled for some of these beautiful flowers to bring life into your home sourced from local farms! This supports a small business and the arrangements are already premade!

Here are five of the summer(and slightly fall) flowers we have had our eyes on:

• Zinnia

• Sunflower

• Lavender

• Dahlia

• Chrysanthemum

Zinnia Flowers

What turned me onto Zinnia’s recently is the symbolism and meaning behind them. I was looking for a flower that had a meaning similar to “consistency”. It is a skill that I am working to grow within, so a reminder in my home is much appreciated. This was one of the first results that pulled up and I couldn’t be more pleased. It is associated with quite a few meanings, such as: endurance, lasting affection, and daily remembrance.

Beautiful Blooms!

Zinnias can also be found in a range of colors including:

• blue

• pink

• yellow

• purple

This makes them versatile in most arrangements!

The bloom of a Zinnia can be found throughout summer and into early fall. They are annuals so if you plant them yourself to grow, remember you will have to replant them the following year.

Fun fact: They also attract butterflies!

https://www.almanac.com/plant/zinnias. “Zinnias: the Complete flower guide”

Sun flower:

Sun flowers are indicative of summer! Their vibrant yellow is a staple of summertime fun. They are primarily found in North and South America all throughout summer and into early fall.

Sunflower fields are great for photo ops and there will usually be events around them as well! Local farms will host festivals and “hay rides” through the sunflower fields so that guests can get the full experience. Farms all across the United States host these events through summer, typically even running until the last weekend of September or longer!

With their vibrant blooms, its easy to guess that they are associated with energy and happiness. In some religions, it is affiliated with trust and loyalty.

Overall, this bloom is a statement piece of any arrangement!

https://www.britannica.com/plant/sunflower-plant

Lavender:

Lavender is a plant with many uses and forms. Firstly, it smells amazing. The smell is traditionally used in essential oils and perfumes to promote a calming energy. Putting these in your home is a great way to relax by taking a whiff if you need to calm down and take a moment for yourself. Lavender sprays are used to put on pillows and linens to promote deeper sleep.

It can also be dried! Dried lavender looks beautiful and also can be used in teas or infused in oils.

As you can see, lavender has many different applications. My favorite thing about it, is that it keeps flies away! The naturally occurring smell that it is famous for kept flies away from our outdoor summer meals better than almost anything.

It is very easy to grow and, also, grows well with other plants (for the most part). Please keep in mind: as plants grow, their containers need to be adjusted accordingly. The root systems will begin to overtake one another if the space is too small for both plants to grow comfortably.

Dahlia

Hands down my favorite flower. It can be found all throughout summer in markets. It has a unique, symmetrical bulbous shape.

The dahlia is a show stopping flower. Sometimes, frogs even take cover in these beautiful petals to protect themselves from the elements!

However, there are so many varieties that not all are round. Some resemble more of a zinnia. This makes sense because it is related to the zinnia and sunflower!

If you’re thinking of giving them as a gift, they can be known to represent kindness and gracefulness under pressure. It is a flower that can be connected to divine femininity.

Chrysanthemums

Chrysanthemums, which are also known as “Mums” , bloom in the later half of summer and can be found throughout until even mid January.

So, if you still want to have beautifully colored flowers even as the summer months start to fade to autumn, this is the way to go. They are a classic to put on the front porch in fall! In some cultures, Chrysanthemums have been seen as a protective emblem. Warding off negative energies. This is why you will find them on porches in the fall months along with pumpkins and jack o lanterns.

They are also commonly dried, and used as a tea! These teas can be found online or in local stores.

Mums come in a variety of colors as well, from a deep maroon to white to yellow. There are varieties to match all aesthetics.

Source:

https://www.salemsupplyco.com/magical-uses-of-chrysanthemum

Conclusion:

Summer is a time for vibrant colors and sunshine! Flowers are a great way to brighten up and bring life to any space. The flowers above are a stunning addition to any arrangement and can be found all summer long!