As you get older and the dreary winter days seem to lengthen, spring becomes all the more long-awaited. Although not officially recognized as a holiday, National Flower Day, which coincides with the spring equinox – the first day of spring – aptly commemorates the renewal that the season brings. (While National Flower Day invariably falls on March 21 each year, the spring equinox actually shifts). 

National Flower Day provides a welcome respite from the dearth of winter, reminding everyone that there is beauty in even a simple blade of grass or the flutter of a bird in flight. Take the time to stroll through your neighbourhood and stop to smell the roses – or whatever’s in season. 

A History of Flowers

Since time immemorial, flowers have always starred as poignant motifs of life, both for their brief evanescence and everlasting connection to the divine. Throughout human society, flowers have served as symbols of refinement and elegance in artwork, ceramics, and jewelry for the royal court. Flower symbolism ran rampant in Greco-Roman mythology, and the Ancient Egyptians adorned their temples with floral motifs, particularly the lotus flower. In Tang dynasty China, floral silks were popularized, consisting of elaborate brocades of woven silk. 

Flowers wove their way into tapestries of the Middle Ages as various backdrops, giving rise to many stylistic themes – the fleur de lis symbol is widely associated with French nobility. Harkening back to the Renaissance, bountiful vases of blooms were carefully arranged by artists to capture their fleeting beauty. Flowers in their various stages, from the bloom of health to their inevitable decay, were lamented by poets, playwrights, and writers alike. However brief, flowers have brightened countless lives, and will continue to do so. 

Ways to Celebrate National Flower Day

There are many elements that form a garden, yet flowers unfailingly take center stage as the leading stars of the show. Not to mention their inherent beauty, flowers offer many benefits, including boosting mental and emotional health. They’re the ones that banish the dark shadows that continue to stalk driveways and alleyways, warding off the pervasive sense of malaise that plagues society. Check out a few ways you can celebrate this day. 

1. Plant Some Flowers 

Spring is a good opportunity to commence your gardening journey and plant some new flowers. While every garden has a few staples, take the time to choose a special flower to add to your garden – the more unusual and extreme the better. These can include the monstrously beautiful peloric foxgloves, the cuddly pom-pom sunflowers, or striking black hollyhocks. As always, check your planting zones to determine the correct planting dates. 

2. Visit a Garden Conservatory 

Botanical garden centers are a great way to gain exposure to a wide variety of plants without venturing to a foreign destination. Many larger botanical centers house exotic flowers purveyed from other countries, flourishing in greenhouse conditions that would normally be unsuitable for them in the native climate. 

3. Incorporate Edible Flowers into the Garden  

During the Dutch Hunger Winter of World War II, a famine struck Holland, and the population resorted to consuming tulips for food. While the horror is fortunately long past, the practice of incorporating edible flowers into drinks and food continues. Edible flowers, also known as ‘edimentals,’ are an easy way to add both substance and style to the garden. Fragrant herbs like lavender are considered edimentals, as are aesthetic vegetables like black-colored tomatoes. 

4. Bring Flowers Home 

Add pops of color to your home by bringing flowers from the market or even your own garden. Even store-brought flowers can shine under the right arrangements. Once you obtain your bouquets, give the stems a fresh cut with a sharp tool, such as hori hori knife, at a 45° angle to increase water absorption. 

5. Explore Unique Flower Arrangements 

The art of floristry is an underexplored art that not many gardeners give thought to, especially if they are growing for sustenance rather than beauty. However, there are many creative arrangements that can give life to dull or overlooked areas in the home. Incorporate long-lasting dried flowers, strikingly patterned feathers, or miniature succulents under a terrarium for a unique, modern presentation. 

Celebrate National Flowers Day with Vego Garden

It may seem a cliché to say that spring is the season for flowers, but there’s truth in the sentiment. Floral bouquets are beautiful, but what’s even better is growing them in a garden, where they will bloom for far longer. Whether you’re a novice or advanced gardener, Vego Garden has you covered. 

Facilitate your garden creativity with raised garden beds – the possibilities are endless with these specially configured designs. L-shaped beds are naturally curved into the shape of a heart, while the Evergrove collection combines the beauty of wood with the unmatched durability of metal. These raised beds provide a perfect platform to elevate your florals, turning them into stunning focal points along the garden path. 

The hori hori knife also comes in handy when harvesting and pruning flowers. Deadheading blooms as soon as they fade keeps the plant maintained and encourages more prolific growth. Keep your plants properly hydrated with an efficient watering hose.