Lilies have many traits that make them special. Those traits are the ones that stimulate our senses, but also the more elusive traits that lie in their symbolism. I combine both in this blog and in the designs I created with lilies in three colors from Bredefleur. The rest I leave to your imagination...
An Ode to the Lily
Lilies are such diverse flowers to use in designs. They smell great or not (yes, there are odorless ones too). They have an incredible length to work with. And their powerful color pallet gives a lot of options.
The flower bud closed is mysterious and you can feel the tension as the flower opens. The stamens and the beautiful lines and dots appear, just like the transition of colors in the flower. The flowers become a beautiful focal flower in a bouquet, they grab the credits of the whole arrangement and they have every right to do so. They seduce you with their scent, allure, and attitude.
You can go in all directions with the lily. It offers plenty of choice in terms of color, shape, and size. You will find the flower in serene white, calm pink, and striking red, yellow, purple, and orange. It is also available with stripes or dots. The flowers can have a diameter of 7 to 25 centimeters. By the way, double lilies like the Lily Double Diamond do not have stamens.
The Symbolism of Lilies
If one flower has a meaning, it is the lily. The lily is literally full of symbolism; she represents sweetness, purity, love, fertility, femininity, unity, and transience, all in one flower. Of all these symbolic meanings, four stand out. Which ones are? You read it below.
Femininity
It is mainly its shape, the variety of colors, and the sweet scent that make the lily the symbol of femininity. That meaning goes way back, to ancient Egypt. For example, Greek and Roman brides often received a crown of lilies in the hope of a pure and fruitful life.
Love
Expressing feelings in the stiff Victorian era? That was really 'not done'. But how then were people to tell each other what they felt? A secret language turned out to be the solution. By giving each flower a certain meaning, the language of flowers was created: Floriography. At the time, the Romans used the lily as a filling in pillows and blankets because of its nice scent. Thus lilies became the diffusers of the fragrance of love. If a lady received this sweet-smelling flower, she would know for sure: 'This is my lover'.
Purity
You must have noticed; white lilies are often used at weddings. The reason? White lilies, especially in Christianity, symbolize virginity and purity. The white lily is therefore nicknamed 'The Madonna Lily'. And just pay attention: the lily can also often be seen as a religious symbol in combination with the Virgin Mary.
Transcience
Not only when we are happy and happy, flowers are a beautiful way to express emotions. Even with loss and mourning, flowers help to say something without words. Lilies are often used at funerals; the serene, pure appearance of the flower suits this occasion well.
Lilies Have the Wow Factor
If there's one versatile flower, it's the lily. However you want to use the flower, it always gives the wow factor.
They create a wonderful ambiance. Lilies are flowers with large calyxes in all kinds of colors, color combinations, and sizes. One is wonderfully fragrant, the other shows off beautiful pollen on her stamens. There are also beauties that are odorless and pollen-free, and did you know that there are even double-flowered lilies? They all have in common that they sparkle immediately where they are allowed to shine.
They are modest. Although lilies have a great wow effect, the meaning of this flower is just the opposite. The lily is a symbol of innocence, in the sense of not being aware. How humble is that? A real natural beauty that subconsciously attracts all the attention. To enjoy!
Care for Your Lilies
Did you buy lilies? Then of course you want to enjoy it as long as possible. Remove the leaf that would otherwise be submerged in water. Cut the stems with a sharp knife as diagonally as possible. Immediately place the lilies in a clean vase with lukewarm water and cut flower food. And change the water so that the water remains fresh and clear.
This way all your senses will be able to enjoy these gorgeous flowers. And just leave the rest to your imagination...
Bredefleur Lilies
The lilies used in these designs are from grower Bredefleur: Lily Double Diamond, Lily Bowl of Beauty, Lily Bach, Lily Albufeira, Lily Honesty, and Lily Viva La Vida.
Special thanks to grower Bredefleur and wholesaler Duif Flowers.
