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Lena Raven

Born in Nalchik in 1966, graduated with a major in English Lit, and working as a school teacher since 1990. My interests are diverse: music, good literature, and computer technology at the user level. I like to try new things, and I bring what I started to its logical conclusion. Oh! And I do love my pets! I’m already 54 and I still believe in miracles and hobbits with elves and Gandalf. I myself am a bit of an adventuress like a hobbit, and I love mushrooms, too, like they do.

Rooted in history: flowers used as symbols of state

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Today, let us explore the fascinating topic of using flowers as national symbols — something that began to happen when the first nations were born. One of the first coats of arms, or at least its prototype, appeared in Ancient Greece where seals with embossed flower shapes were used to verify documents. And just like roses, lilies, and carnations adorned the shields of medieval knights, several countries of today sport orchids, chrysanthemums, and rhododendrons on their national colors and coats of arms — times may change, but flowers remain!

Flowers as national symbols: Ukrainian flag landscape

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The latest in haute cuisine: flowers!

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Some of you must have seen gorgeous desserts decorated with flower buds, and many people think those are just there to provide a nice look, and use their fork to gently put them aside rather than to consume them. Too bad! Today, flowers are an ingredient of haute cuisine in their own right: no longer just a delicate, fragile thing to grace the meal, but something that can bring out an amazing taste in even the blandest of foods, lending a truly royal grandeur and chic to any dish.

Candied blossoms used to decorate cakes and other sweet goodies are perfectly edible (candied rose petals are nothing short of delicious!), widely included in jelly, jello-based desserts, and refreshing drinks, — and that’s just one example; more on that in our recent overview of edible blooms. Today, let us explore the delectable topic of flowers as food in more detail!

Flowers as food: floral ice cubes

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Edible flowers: where, how, and which ones to use?

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It turns out that flowering plants are not just for decorating our gardens and windowsills: their blossoms can also serve as an excellent garnish for desserts, salads, cocktails, and many other dishes. In addition to aesthetic beauty, edible flowers will enrich even the simplest food with an extraordinary aroma and health benefits. Today, let us explore what blooms can be edible, and where and how exactly they are used.

Edible flowers: petals in a cone

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Flowers and sports? A mix for the ages! History of the Olympic bouquet

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Being an athlete is a ton of pressure, and for those who want to end up standing on a winners’ podium holding an Olympic bouquet, the choice is narrow: either go for the win, or bury all your hopes in soft couch pillows. By extension, the awards on those huge global events also tend to reflect this make-or-break mentality, even if they are floral! Today, we are going to explore the history of the Olympic flowers, a trademark of a true winner.

Olympic flowers: the Olympic rings in blossoms

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What’s new in bouquets? Flower-giving trends of 2021 and 2022

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Coco Chanel once said: “Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.” Indeed, fashion affects almost every aspect of our lives and transforms everything around us.

That definitely includes flowers: year after year, florists and horticulturists seem to come up with a brand-new vision of the bouquet that says “now,” along with all sorts of exciting solutions to create unique and truly contemporary floral arrangements. Let’s take a tour of the hottest styles, modern flower arrangement practices, and the best colors to use in a bouquet!

Modern flower arrangements: natural look

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Weddings and flowers — a combination from time immemorial? Apparently not

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Nowadays, a wedding bouquet feels like a staple of any marriage, but has it always been this way? Today, let us discuss when and where the romantic accessory first appeared, some of its current styles, and why brides throw it at the wedding ceremony.

The origins of the wedding bouquet

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The language of flowers: your tools to convey a tailored message

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When it comes to gifts, flowers can be the best way to express a range of emotions: from gentle affection to ardent love! It is no secret that they are able to speak a special language, and symbolize certain kinds of a relationship. The rules of this language of flowers are important to follow when choosing a floral arrangement: one misstep can ruin the moment completely, which we covered in our last article about unwelcome guests in a bouquet. Today, let us talk about some very welcome ones!

The language of flowers: conveying a message

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Valentine bouquet no-nos: things you don’t want to say by giving flowers

2 Comments / Flower etiquette / By

Without a doubt, flowers make the best Valentine’s Day gifts. After all, what is more, eloquent in expressing a romantic feeling than delicate, weightless, almost transparent petals of fresh flowers? Flowers can also be seen as having their own soul, being able to speak to us and carry their own energy.

But that’s the trick of the language of flowers: the external beauty of their buds does not necessarily correspond to the meaning they convey!  You need to know a few unshakable flower rules for your bouquet. And it fills the heart of a loved one with warmth.   Different occasions dictate different types of flowers, colors, and even numbers! Most importantly, the more expensive the bouquet, and the larger and brighter the wrapping paper, the more respect the gift commands — and conveys.

There are even plants that are completely inappropriate for Valentine’s Day bouquets! Let’s explore those today.

Good — and bad choices for a Valentine's day bouquet!

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Uncovering the secrets of the cactus: Part two. The magic powers

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The cactus is not a plant so it’s a good idea to offend. So we’ve decided to dedicate not one, but two articles to its endless awesomeness! In part one, we talked about the legends behind its origins, and how it got its spines and blossoms. We also talked about how it can protect your home from negativity — today. Let’s delve deeper into the subject of the uncanny mystical powers of the cactus. Scientists, steer clear.

Mystical powers of the cactus: under the stars

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Uncovering the secrets of the cactus: Part one. Tales and legends

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Our journey into floral lore continues with the cactus, a plant with so many amazing features that it deserves an article in two parts! In part one, let’s look at some of the legends that different cultures have devised regarding where the cactus came from and who gave it its distinguishing spines, and examine a surprising practical way in which the plant can prove useful.

 

Uncovering the cactus: a cactus collection

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