Mother’s Day Flowers
Happy Mother’s Day!
A few weeks ago, we were discussing what sort of flowers to give to each of our wives and mothers. We started researching the deeper meanings behind the different types of flowers which, as you can imagine, got us all thinking about our own mothers and what they mean to each of us. So, in honor of Mother’s Day and our newly found research, we thought we’d share a few of the things we learned.
Carnations
Carnations – especially white ones – are often seen as the official flower of Mother’s Day. The reason for this actually has to do with the origins of the holiday. In 1907, a woman named Anna Jarvis began writing to many prominent figures – Teddy Roosevelt and Mark Twain, to name a few. Her goal was to proclaim a national day for recognizing mothers. She then organized local Mother’s Day celebrations in her community and encouraged people to write letters to their mothers. As part of her efforts, she sent 500 white carnations – her own mother’s favorite flower – to all the women in attendance at her local church. The tradition caught on and spread around the country.
These days, carnations represent purity, love, beauty, and kindness. They represent the emotional connection between a caring mother and a loving child.
Zinnias
Traditionally, zinnias are thought to symbolize endurance, goodness, and everlasting love. These are Kenny’s mom’s favorites which seems particularly appropriate because of how much bees also love the brightly colored blooms. Zinnias are native to Mexico and Central America, but are named after Johann Zinn, a German botanist who delivered them to Europe in the 1700s. Whether it be a 9,000-mile trip from Mexico to Europe or the daily endurance of raising kids, we think zinnias would be a perfect choice for Mother’s Day.
Blue Flax
Blue flax is a small blue wildflower that was once used by the Washoe tribe for making cords and strings. The usefulness and industriousness of these flowers naturally feel like a synonym for mothers, but they also symbolize wisdom, devotion, maturity, and domestication. Blue flax is Brittany’s mom’s favorite flower and an excellent representation of the women who make such a huge impact in our lives.
Roses
Roses are always an easy choice when giving flowers to a loved one. With so many colors and scents, it’d be nearly impossible to not find one to like. Misael’s mom’s favorites are white roses which are thought to also symbolize loyalty, making them an excellent choice to display on Mom’s dining table. Brian’s mom also loves roses but enjoys them in every color available. As a whole, roses represent gratitude and admiration, which is truly what each of us is trying to express on Mother’s Day, isn’t it?
Sunflowers
We can’t be a Kansas City company without mentioning sunflowers, and these happen to be Kirstin’s mom’s favorite. Sunflowers are thought to represent loyalty and adoration, two emotions many of us feel toward our mothers and our mothers feel toward us. Because of their association with the sun, sunflowers are known for being a happy flower and the perfect option to brighten someone’s mood!
Daffodils
As the quintessential ‘spring’ flower, we completely understand why this is Bryan’s mom’s favorite flower. Daffodils were being introduced into European gardens as early as 300BC, being introduced by the Romans who believed the sap had healing powers. Daffodils are a symbol of positivity, new beginnings, and hope. What could be more reflective of surviving the day-in, day-out stresses of motherhood than positivity and hope?! And what reflects supernatural healing powers more than a mother’s kiss?
Gerbera Daisies
Finally, we have daisies. These are Emily’s mom’s favorites, going all the way back to her wedding bouquet in 1982. These bright, colorful flowers represent cheerfulness and happiness. Given how hard many mothers work to instill these feelings in their homes, we think these are a perfect choice for Mother’s Day as well.
We’re sure you know it’s traditional to give flowers for Mother’s Day. Learning more about these types of flowers gives us a chance to not only think about their deeper meaning but about what our mothers mean to us. They give us a chance to reflect on the relationships we have with our mothers and mother-figures in our lives and recall the specific traits and gifts our mothers have that we most appreciate. And when we choose a specific flower, rather than simply choosing the nearest bouquet at the grocery store, we can let our mothers know what we are most grateful for in them.
We are each so grateful for our mothers. We’re grateful for everything they have done and continue to do for us. This Mother’s Day, when we look at the flowers in people’s gardens, arboretums, and florist’s shops, we hope you’ll take a moment to think about what qualities the flowers represent.
On behalf of all of us at True Wealth, we wish you the very happiest of Mother’s Days!