Hi, I see you’re back on my blog! If you like DIY projects, flowers, and mental health bits, you might enjoy this simple and sweet writing.
On January 15, two days before my birthday, my sister surprised me with a bouquet of purple flowers (I don’t know what they are called, and I tried to search, but I still don’t know).
History of flower-giving
Rodriguez (2019) said that our ancient ancestors used flowers to express our feelings, mourn, or celebrate. In the 1700s, Turkey developed the language of flowers called Floriography.
However, the giving of flowers can be traced back to Ancient Greece and Egypt, where people would bring floral offerings to their gods.
From there, it extended to giving it to your loved one and eventually became a way to communicate with others during the Victorian era.
Although we are no longer in touch with the flower’s meanings and symbols, we still carry the tradition of offering flowers, especially on the upcoming Valentine’s Day. Personally, it’s not a requirement to have flowers on special occasions, but I admit it adds a nice touch. It looks good, and it smells good.
But then, like any natural flower, my birthday bouquet would soon wither away. Usually, I don’t mind throwing flowers away when it’s visibly rotting, but this wasn’t the case here.
Here’s the reason: I could be sentimental too, and my birthday experience was too great not to have memorabilia.
So I thought that making pressed flowers out of this might do the trick.
Step by step
Firstly, I removed the bouquet wrap and set it aside to
recycle later.
Secondly, I began separating the stems and choosing which ones to cut.
Thirdly, I cut the flowers and selected which ones to press.
Lastly, I grabbed an old book and inserted the flowers.
This is what my workstation looked like 💜
Flowers and mental health
Being the receiver of flowers or the one giving it improves our mood and mental health. Reynolds (2021) supported that studies have shown that giving flowers can induce positive vibes.
Also, the mere thought of flowers can promote calm feelings, according to numerous studies.
I remember feeling joyful when my sister handed me the purple flowers: One, because purple is my current favorite color, and two, I love natural things. Most importantly, I felt loved by the thought of my sister planning to surprise me with a gift.
I believe that anything that comes from a loving attitude will ultimately radiate love. A flower bouquet is one of many expressions of love. It may not be for everybody, but it surely made me happy.
I’m hoping to return the favor soon when my sister celebrates her birthday on September. Hopefully by that time, my pressed flowers are ready and I can make another DIY project.
This is your reminder, ladies and gents, that your bouquets may be preserved in another way. Some would dry the entire bouquet and hang them on the wall. Some would pick the petals and put it inside a jar.
Do it your own way, just remember to enjoy the process.
Thank you for reading 💜 Have a healing day!
Do you want flowers this Valentine's Day? Let me know through your comments!
Gifs and photos were taken by me unless stated otherwise 😁