Posted by: Stan - The Dandy FlowerWoman... on June 20th, 2008

Marry when June roses grow and over land and sea you’ll go…

Although late summer is fast becoming a popular time of the year for matrimonial activity, June is the traditonal month for weddings and anniversaries. This is because June is traditionally considered to be the luckiest month to marry in as it is named after Juno, the Roman goddess of love and marriage.

Additionally, the summer as a whole was considered a good time to marry, partly to do with the sun’s association with fertility.

The flowers at your wedding will reflect your personality and character, so choose the flowers for the table, button holes and bridal bouquets that symbolise your feelings about your relationship. Take a look at our Flower Meanings page for inspiration for your wedding.

Our own Mariusz (aka ‘Super Mario’), Head of Distribution here at Flowers HQ, celebrated ten years of marriage to his georgeous missus Madzia (pictured far right with Mariusz) at the weekend, and marked the special occasion with a stunning bouquet of 100 grand prix roses with an intricate ‘10′ detail entwined with white roses.

Prepared by one of our team of ultra talented florists, the lovely Judith (pictured right with her work), this amazing bouquet had to be kept underwraps as Madzia herself popped into the office visit her other half on Friday - causing much panic and raised heart pressure!

The flower arrangement was finally handed over to its more than grateful - and pleasantly surprised! - recipient at the weekend, and is still looking as fresh as it heads into its second week.

As expectations of Arena Flowers increase and the talents of our team are stretched, confidence is growing in specialist and bespoke designs for special occasions. Whether you are planning a wedding or anniversary celebration, contact our team at customer@arenaflowers.com who will be more than happy to assist and offer friendly advice.

If you are looking for a quick yet effective fix for an upcoming anniversary, we supply a comprehensive range of appropriate gift ideas direct from ArenaFlowers.com for sameday delivery within the M25 and next day for the rest of mainland UK…

1st Anniversary | Carnation
Dianthus, the carnation’s botanical name, means “divine flower”. Available all year round, carnations can last up to three weeks but should be kept away from ripening fruit and vegetables because of ethylene gas.
The UK’s best-selling cut flower, red carnations denote “alas for my poor heart”, striped for refusal, yellow for disdain, pink for woman’s love.

2nd Anniversary | Lily of the Valley
Currently out of season at time of writing, lily of the valley differs from generic lilies by the little white bells arranged up a short delicate stem.
Signifying “return to happiness”, lily of the valley is much used in bridal arrangements for their sweet perfume. Traditionally associated with May 1st, especially in France where the “muguet” is handed out at special events.
As an alternative summer gift, we suggest our Precious in Pink arrangement of pink lilies, a bottle of Contarini brut prosecco and delicious Prestat organic Earl Grey milk chocolate wafers.

3rd Anniversary | Sunflower
A traditionally summer flower, the botanical name for sunflower is Helianthus, the Greek word “helios” meaning sun and “anthos” meaning flower.
Sunflowers are commonly associated with pride and adoration, and thought to signify boldness and exuberance, with an additional association with the summer star sign of Leo.

4th Anniversary | Hydrangea
Originating from Japan in the 18th century, Hydrangea means “water barrel” and refers to the shape of the fruit after it has sprung open. Their small, star-shaped flowers are packed closely together to form a rounded or pyramidal head. A popular addition to wedding bouquets, hydrangeas are available right through from spring until autumn and make beautiful dried flowers. Please email us direct at customer@arenaflowers.com for availability.

5th Anniversary | Daisy
Daisies come in all shapes and forms, including gerberas and asters. Available all year round, gerberas were little known just a few decades ago but now there are over 200 varieties, with many variants. Our favourite gerbera flower arrangement is our ethically sourced Pink & White Gerbera Bouquet - packed with smily happy fairly-grown flower stems!

6th Anniversary | Calla
Also known as the arum lily, calla lilies are another popular favourite with wedding planners. Often depicted in many paintings, the calla lily is visible in many of Diego Rivera’s works of art (see The Flower Vendor, amongst others) and signifies “magnificent beauty”. Our magnificent Luxury Romance hand-tied bouquet contains pink calla lilies as well as asiatic lilies to make a memorable sixth wedding anniversary gift.

7th Anniversary | Freesia
Symbolising innocence and thoughtfulness, freesias have established themselves as one of the UK’s favourite cut flower - despite being relatively unknown until the 1950s. Their appeal doesn’t merely lie in their delicate blossoms and wide spectrum of hues alone - the flowers have a strangely attractive asymmetry, growing off just one side of a thin, elegant stem.

8th Anniversary | Lilac
First cultivated in the middle of the last century in Europe, the cut flower of the lilac is considered to be far more glamorous than its shrub counterpart, with long branches laden with flowers. The flowers are very labour intensive to grow but the final result is well worth it. Available in white, mauve, violet or pink, with the purple-flowered varieties containing the stronger scent. Lilacs have come to signify youthfulness, humility and confidence.

9th Anniversary | Bird of Paradise
Named after King Charles III’s wife Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Streliz, the strelitzia, also known as “the bird of paradise” due to its resemblance to the exotic bird species, is a versatile plant that makes the ideal gift for both male and female recipients. Available all year round, the bird of paradise signifies ‘magnificence’ and it’s easy to see why with our exotic Strelitzia Tropical Arrangement.

10th Anniversary | Daffodil
Otherwise known by their genus name, narcissus, the flower is named after Narcissus in Greek legend, “Narcissus” deriving from the Greek for “numbness” referring to the narcotic properties of the plant.
Daffodils and narcissi have sap which is toxic to other flowers, so are generally displayed separately. The emblem of Wales, the daffodil is traditionally worn on St David’s Day and is also used by Marie Curie Cancer Care to raise money on National Daffodil Day. Symbolising regard, rebirth, new beginnings, unrequited love, chivalry, the daffodil is the birthflower for March.

11th Anniversary | Tulip
Tulips are Arena Flowers’ favourite flowers. The colour pink is symbolic of perfect happiness and confidence. Since tulips are large, showy, and usually solitary flowers, a ‘tulip’ has come to mean ‘a showy person’. ‘Tulipomania’ is the craze for tulip growing, originating in the Netherlands in the 17th century. The tulip stands for ‘perfect love’ and each shade expresses some emotion of life. The pink tulip signifies admiration.

12th Anniversary | Peony
Cultivated for over 2,000 years, the Chinese name for peony is “sho yu” which means “most beautiful”. Peonies are only available between late May and early July, so get them now while you can! Peonies are generally regarded to symbolise luxury and indulgence, however they also represent a happy life, happy marriage, good health and prosperity - not bad for twelve years together with your loved one!

13th Anniversary | Chrysanthemum
The name chrysanthemum derives from the Greek term “krus anthemon” meaning gold flower. However, nowadays they come in all colours except blue (which have been known to be dyed for special events). The Chinese who considered chrysanthemums to be the highest of flowers, named their royal throne after the flower.
Available all year round, the chrysanthemum is depicted on Japan’s imperial weapon and flag, with the country also having a national festival devoted to the flower (Sept 9th).
The birthflower of November and signifying cheerfulness, optimism, rest and truth, Feng Shui adherents believe the chrysanthemum brings laughter and happiness to your home.

14th Anniversary | Orchid
Currently the most popular houseplant in the UK according to the Flowers & Plants Association, the orchid’s name derives from the Greek word “orchis” meaning testicle, because of the shape of the bulbous roots.
Orchids are the largest family of the plant kingdom with over 25,000 naturally occurring species in the world, as well as all the specially-developed hybrids.
Lasting well over a month on the plant, orchids simply need regular misting to stay healthy and can withstand central heating better than some cut flowers.
Orchids have come to signify love, refinement, mature charm, beauty and long life. As well as the 14th anniversary, orchids are also associated with the 28th wedding anniversary.

15th Anniversary | Rose
Originating from China, the rose is now cultivated from America to Africa and from Eastern Europe to the Far East and available in every colour except blue and true black.
Available all year round and probably the best known and best-loved flower in the world.
The red rose is the symbol of England and is (sometimes) worn on St George’s Day. It is also the symbol of love and is hugely popular on St Valentine’s Day, when roses make up the largest proportion of the £22 million spent on flowers in the UK on this day.
As well as love, a red rose has come to signify passion, respect, courage, beauty, purity, prosperity and perfection - from which our ultimate ethically sourced rose bouquet gains its name. The rose is also the birthflower of June - so another good reason to spoil someone rotten this month!

20th Anniversary | Aster
Asters are named after the Greek word for “star” due to the star-shaped flower head similar to that of a daisy. Asters are found abundantly throughout the globe as they grow in a wide range of climates from the tropics to cooler regions in the North. Asters signify variety, elegance and daintiness and are the birthflower for September.
Gerberas belong to the Aster family (Asteraceae) and can be easily spotted throughout the for their lovely clusters of purple, blue, pink, white, or red petals.

25th Anniversary | Iris
Meaning “rainbow” in Greek, irises come in a broad spectrum of colours, but cut flower irises are mostly blue, white and yellow like the summer sky.
The popularity of irises over the centuries has been demonstrated in the still life paintings of the Dutch masters, and in some languages, irises are called flags or sword flags, relating them to symbols of heraldry and royalty, hence the original “Fleur de lys” of heraldry. In Japan the shape is seen to express heroism and the blue colour refers to blue blood, so irises play a key role in their spring festival for boys.

30th Anniversary | Lily
Lilies have been cultivated for over 3000 years. Feng Shui believers hold the lily as an emblem of summer and abundance; to the Chinese, lily means “Forever in love”. The lily was the holy flower of the ancient Assyrians. Until the 16th century the Madonna lily was the only garden variety known, because of this the “lilies of the field” as mentioned in the bible are thought to be this specific lily.
A lily has adorned the coat of arms of the kings of France since 1179. King Chlodwig I allegedly received this ‘fleur de lys’, as it is called in heraldic language, from an angel. But in actual fact his flower wasn’t a lily, as the name implies, but an iris (see 25th anniversary, above). In Greek poetry, the lily stood for tenderness, and has later come to signify majesty and wealth.

40th Anniversary | Gladiolus
Famously associated with Dame Edna Everage, and the birthflower for August, gladioli are used extensively throughout Mediterranean countries in festivals and saints’ days and symbolise strength of character, remembrance, infatuation, splendid beauty, sincerity and admiration. Gladiolus (from Latin, the diminutive of gladius, a sword) is a genus of flowering plants in the iris family (Iridaceae), so we recommend our new summer bouquet Just Good Friends (pictured left) - friendship, of course, being one of the key necessities in a long-lasting relationship!

50th Anniversary | Yellow Roses
Not discovered until the 18th century, yellow roses have a shorter history than other roses. However, once the first yellow roses were introduced, their popularity quickly spread.
A bouquet of yellow roses now brings to mind all of the sunny, cheerful feelings of warmth and happiness. In contrast to the romantic meanings attributed to other roses, the yellow rose is purely a symbol for friendship. This gives it a unique place in the pantheon of roses, sending the perfect message of appreciation and platonic love without the romantic subtext of other colors. They can represent feelings of joy and delight, and are an ideal way to brighten someone’s day who may be feeling down. There is perhaps no other flower that is able to bring out a smile in quite the way that a yellow rose can.

Below is a quick and useful ‘ready reckoner’ of wedding anniversaries - don’t forget that for wedding anniveraaries of 60 years and higher, you can apply to Buckingham Palace for a special celebratory message from the Queen herself, gawd bless ‘er.

1st	Paper	11th	Steel	25th	Furniture
2nd	Cotton	12th	Silk, Linen	30th	Silver
3rd	Leather	13th	Lace	35th	Pearl
4th	Fruit, Flowers	14th	Ivory	40th	Coral
5th	Wood	15th	Crystal	45th	Ruby
6th	Sugar	16th	Tungsten	50th	Sapphire
7th	Wool, Copper	17th	Turquoise	55th	Gold
8th	Bronze, Pottery	18th	Bismuth	60th	Emerald
9th	Pottery, Willow	19th	Bismuth or China	65th	Diamond
10th	Tin	20th	China	70th	Star Sapphire

Filed under: Distribution, Floristry, Flowers, General, Operations, Weddings on June 20th, 2008

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