Colors and their Meaning

We sometimes forget about colors and their meaning – they not only symbolize different emotions but traditionally are used for certain events. Without further ado, let’s cut to the chase:

Red - is the color of fire and expresses emotion, excitement and passion in the form of energy, love, violence, war and aggression. The color red is certainly over stimulating.

Orange – stands for enthusiasm, vibrance and warmth. Unlike most colors there are few negative connotations.

Yellow – the color of the sun and thus joy, happiness, hope and summer. Ironically it is also the color of cowardice, sickness, deceit, betrayal and jealousy.

Green – is connected to nature and the environment – a color of health, luck, youth, spring and fertility. In dichotomy it also has an association with jealousy, envy and misfortune.

Blue – offers us peace and tranquility, a calming and cool color for this reason probably the most popular of colors. It also denotes depression and sadness. A conservative color of truth, loyalty and patience.

Purple – is associated with wealth, royalty and opulence. There is a magical calming effect and it is a favorite in the majority of children.

Grey – the powerful color of dignity, maturity, security, modesty and old age hence the term grey beard refering to the elderly.

Brown – this is often the other color of mother nature. A symbol of the earth and outdoors offering comfort, stability and simplicity in its enduring style.

White – this color presents us with many meanings focused on purity and innocence. A symbol of peace, humility, glory and beauty. A sign of winter.

Black - The actual absence of color and yet it is perhaps the strongest symbol of strength, power and evil. Black magic demonstrates a powerful message.  But black is more. Black is formal. Black is night and darkness. Black is anger, mourning and death.  Black is sexuality. This absence of color is powerful indeed.

So when choosing your colors, think about the image you want to protray. In different cultures the meanings will very. Some have a very distinct difference to what you may believe, so don’t assume it is appropriate if you are interacting with another culture find out about colors and their meaning first.

How to Arrange Flowers

How to arrange flowers. While I’m no expert, there are some very basic steps to follow that will get you looking like a pro and teach you how to arrange flowers in a flash. This is for simple DIY, do it yourself flower arrangements.

You will need a few basic tools – scissors (pruners are better), stem tape, newspaper to contain the mess, a vase/container or basket and maybe some flower foam (that’s that stuff you stick the flower in to hold it in place – look for an eco-freindly one). Here’s a quick step by step.

Step 1 – Choosing Your Flowers

Decide on the type of arrangement. Perhaps your most important step. If you are picking them fresh from the garden do it in the morning and use a bucket with warm water – remove the lower leaves and thorns as you pick. For the beginner it is best to choose one or two colors and try not to get too complex in the arrangement. Think about your surroundings and what will suit the area best. Don’t forget to choose buds that are tight and fresh. Think of the effect that you want warmer or cooler – choose the color accordingly.

Step 2 – Cutting Your Flowers

You should cut your flowers as long as possible, so you can trim them to size. Cut at a diagonal angle and shorten them if needed.  Make sure your scissors are sharp so as not to squish the stem.

Step 3 – Prepping and Conditioning

Make sure all the leaves are out of the water – this will keep it fresh. Give them a good clean and they will remain fresh for longer. Using warmer water will help preserve them and reduce the shock. You can remove the stamens to reduce coloring and increase the longevity too.

Step 4 – Arrange the Flowers

Remember smaller flowers will look better in a short arrangement while bigger ones may need a tall vase. Place the larger and more dominant flowers in first to create the base – use various angles. Then add your complementary flowers to fill in the voids.

Step 5 – Maintenance & Care

Change the water if possible will increase the shelf like. If you are not going to be able to frequently change the water, consider a container that is not see through. If you can change it daily and recut each of the ends they will last longer. Do not keep in direct sunlight and they will last longer. If you want the buds to open give them warm water but if you want them to last a few more days use cool water.

That’s it. The basics for arranging flowers. With practice you will learn how to arrange flowers at an incredible rate and your creativity will grow. Just try not to over do it at first. Good luck and enjoy.