The sights and scents of spring never fail to lift our mood, which is why we’re so delighted to show off our stunning new seasonal flowers.
From daffodils and tulips to peonies and sweet Williams, there’s a colourful bloom to please all tastes.
So, without further ado, here’s our guide to the pick of the bunch for April and May:
Daffodil
Synonymous with spring, the sight of these nodding yellow flowers signals that summer is finally on its way after a long and dreary winter.
The Latin name for daffodils, ‘narcissus’, links directly to the Greek myth about the arrogant young man of the same name. To punish Narcissus for his vanity, Nemesis, the god of vengeance, lured him to a river. There, he became obsessed with his own reflection and found himself unable to leave. The most common retelling has it that he eventually fell into the river and drowned, with the flowers growing on the bank later named after him.
Of course, daffodils are also the national flower of Wales, with Welsh people displaying and wearing them with pride on St David’s Day every 1 March. You’ll find a bright and beautiful bunch of 100 British daffodils among our spring flowers range.
Tulip
What would spring be without tulips? Certainly a lot less colourful! One of our favourite blooms, this cheery, cup-shaped flower epitomises the season of new beginnings and sunnier days (that’s what we’re hoping for, anyway).
Tulips come in a rainbow of hues, including red, pink, purple, yellow and white. There are over 3,000 varieties to admire, but for a twist on a classic, our pick is parrot tulips with their quirky ruffled petals. You’ll find some in our Luxury Tulips bouquet. If you love peonies, try double late tulips, which look similar with their frilly heads; ours come in purple or yellow.
Tulips originated in central Asia but they’re now chiefly associated with the Netherlands. Back in the Dutch Golden Age of the late 1630s, tulips were considered status symbols, having likely been introduced to Europe by an ambassador to the Ottoman Empire. The price of tulip bulbs skyrocketed as word of their value spread, with some rarer varieties costing more than people’s houses!
But sure enough, once prices became unaffordable for anyone, the bubble of ‘tulipmania’ dramatically burst, causing a lot of financial hardship.
Today, to enjoy some seven million Dutch tulips at their finest, head to the botanical garden of Keukenhof, dubbed ‘the Garden of Europe’, from now until mid-May. Or take a cycle ride out to the seemingly neverending tulip fields and gaze upon row and row of these splendid springtime jewels.
In the language of flowers popularised by the Victorians, red tulips symbolise deep undying love. Pink tulips represent affection and convey best wishes, while yellow tulips, such as those in our letterbox Spring Meadow bouquet, simply say ‘There’s sunshine in your smile’. Send white tulips if you’re seeking forgiveness and purple tulips to someone with a refined taste, due to their connotations of royalty. Even the most discerning of loved ones will be in raptures over our Scents of Spring bouquet.
Our tulips are sent out in bud, meaning they’ll slowly unfurl in your vase so you can enjoy them at their best for longer. You may notice that their stems grow longer, even after being cut. This is because tulips are highly receptive to sunlight and will keep growing towards it. Trim them down if they start looking silly next to other stems in your bouquet, or choose a taller, narrower vase to keep them sturdy and save them from drooping. Rotate it every now and then so that they don’t solely bend in one direction. Oh and don’t be surprised if their cups close up at night; tulips really are sun worshippers!
If you’ve set your heart on tulips to adorn your Easter dining table this year, try our Luxury Tulips or letterbox Spring Meadow bouquet.
Peony
Peonies only bloom in all their blousy glory for a matter of weeks between April and June, so it’s important to make the most of them while they last! Here at Blossoming Gifts, we get extremely excited when peony season rolls around again, hence you’ll find the huge, blush pink Sarah Bernhardt variety taking centre stage in two of our bouquets – Peony, Rose & Lily and Pomegrante Rose & Peony.
These show-stealing flowers signify romance, abundance, luck, wealth and honour, making them the perfect gift for all manner of special occasions, and a perenially popular wedding flower.
They should fully open after three or four days in water but can be a bit fussy. If yours aren’t opening, try to stimulate blooming by washing away any sticky sap, recutting their stems and placing them in warm water for 24 hours.
Hyacinth
If you’re looking to bring that special scent of spring into your home, it’s fabulously fragrant hyacinths that you need. These showy spires of bell-shaped blooms will fill even the largest of rooms with sweet fragrance, and they make gorgeous centrepieces too.
It’s important to note that, for once, you shouldn’t trim their stems before popping them into your vase. This is because their thick base is part of the bulb, which helps them stay hydrated and healthy. Don’t panic if yours look slighly pale and wan on arrival; they’ll look vibrantly colourful once they blossom after a couple of days in water.
In terms of meaning, the Victorians saw hyacinths as symbols of playfulness yet also pride. They can also symbolise peace, constancy and love, hence their popularity in Christian churches, especially in white. The only colour of hyacinth to avoid is yellow, as these convey jealousy and sorrow.
Once again, the hyacinth gets its name from the Greek legend of Hyakinthos, a sportsman who Zephyr, the god of the west wind, killed after growing jealous of his discus prowess. One day, when Hyakinthos was practicing his sport with his lover, the sun god Apollo, Zephyr blew the discus into his head. Hyacinths bloomed from the soil where his blood fell, so this gruesome tale has a nice ending. Sort of?
Both our Scents of Spring and Shades of Spring bouquets features blue hyacinths, along with purple tulips and white spray carnations in the former and pink tulips and spray roses in the latter.
Sweet William
Usually found in rich shades of pink, purple, red and white, sweet William symbolised love, gallantry and grace in Victorian times. Part of the carnation family, it blooms from spring until the end of summer and its sweet yet spicy scent is popular with bees and butterflies.
Sweet William is one of the few blooms associated with masculinity, perhaps due to the myth surrounding its origin story. Some believe it hails from the time of William the Conqueror, as its many flowers covered the hills of Normandy, of which he was the duke. Henry VIII was a fan, too; he demanded that sweet Williams be planted in the gardens of his beloved Hampton Court Palace.
Sweet William has retained its royal links for centuries. In an adorable subtle tribute to her groom, Kate Middleton included the dainty flower in her bridal bouquet when she married Prince William on 29 April 2011. Everybody say ‘aww’!
Iris
With its bold purple and yellow colouring, the iris makes a spirit-lifting statement. Unsurprisingly, given what you’ve read so far, it shares a name with a figure from Greek mythology. This time Iris, messenger to the gods, who travelled between heaven and Earth by using rainbows as bridges (fun fact: the Greek for ‘rainbow’ is ‘iris’). She would accompany female souls to the afterlife, which is why you’ll often see irises laid upon a Greek woman’s grave.
Irises feature in our Spring Meadow bouquet, which pops straight through the letterbox, ready to arrange as you wish. Try dotting jam jars of posies around your kitchen and along your dining table – they’re sure to make any Easter guests smile.
Waxflower
Native to the sandy soil of western Australia, the hardy waxflower blooms in early spring and lasts for up to three weeks after cutting, making it a popular addition to seasonal bouquets. Its petals are usually deep pink or white, predictably waxy in texture and clustered in sprays along the ends of the stems. Its buds are shiny and berry-like.
Down under, the waxflower is thought to bring happiness, fortune and long-lasting love to a marriage, leading many brides and grooms to feature them in their masses.
Their aromatic leaves can be used to flavour food in a similar way to lemon myrtle, which has a similarly citrussy taste. Try adding them to stock or sauce, or infusing them in oil to add a lemony edge to salads.
Pretty pink waxflowers add depth to our Wild Meadow bouquet, another letterbox option, bursting with lilac roses and white snapdragons. You’ll also find them sprinkled among our Luxury Tulips.
See in spring the right way with our colourful range of spring flowers, including tulips, peonies and daffodils. Or browse our selection of great value bundles complete with bouquet, Easter egg and greetings card, starting from under £30.
