The meaning behind Sochi's Olympic Bouquets

Sochi's Olympic Bouquets showcase Russia's Language of Flowers. Here's what the flowers signify:

The Sochi Olympics flower bouquet symbolises the colours of the host city Sochi. The bright yellow from the solidago symbolises the healing properties of the wealth of the Krasnodar region. Green and white miniature chrysanthemums reflect the meadows and mountains that stretch along the Black Sea. Laurel has always symbolised victory and its presence in the Sochi flowers also goes back to the hospitality and kindness of the people of the Caucasus. The remaining ingredient is eucalyptus. This fragrant ornamental was historically planted in Sochi to help drain the wetlands.

Olympic flowers are carefully chosen not just what they symbolise to the host nation but notably also for their hardiness as well as their ability to withstand dehydration and fluctuating temperatures.

Photo credit: AP
Women's super-G gold medal winner, Austria's Anna Fenninger smells her flower bouquet during the flower ceremony on the podium at Sochi 2014.

Photo credit: Guardian

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Rhapsody in Purple

Inspired by Gershwin's 'Rhapsody in Blue' we created this multi-hued basket of lilies, roses, orchids, eustomas, caspia and cordyline with fresh burst of green from Song of India and rain forest leaves.

If you are as curious as we were in trying to figure out the exact shades of purple in this basket, click on this link to Shades of Purple and delightfully discover almost every shade of purple one could imagine.

Don't forget to have Gershwin playing in the background :)

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Happy 200th birthday Mr. Dickens!

The bound books have been brought down from the shelf and today we’re celebrating the birthday of one of our favourite writers. What’s your favourite book by Dickens? Here are some quotes which may strike a familiar chord:

“There are books of which the backs and covers are by far the best parts.” (Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist)

“It is a fair, even-handed, noble adjustment of things, that while there is infection in disease and sorrow, there is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humour.” (Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”  (Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities)

“My meaning simply is, that whatever I have tried to do in life, I have tried with all my heart to do well; that whatever I have devoted myself to, I have devoted myself to completely; that in great aims and in small, I have always been thoroughly in earnest.” (Charles Dickens, David Copperfield)

“Love her, love her, love her! If she favours you, love her. If she wounds you, love her. If she tears your heart to pieces – and as it gets older and stronger, it will tear deeper – love her, love her, love her!” (Charles Dickens, Great Expectations)

“The whole difference between construction and creation is exactly this: that a thing constructed can only be loved after it is constructed; but a thing created is loved before it exists.” (Charles Dickens)

and of course

“There is nothing better than a friend, unless it is a friend with chocolate.” (Charles Dickens)

 Did you know that the Scarlet Geranium featured above is said (by the folks at the Dickens Fellowship) to be the author's favoured flower. Find out more about this and other Victorian blooms from www.thevictorianflowergarden.com/flowers/geranium.html

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