Have you ever seen a beautiful bouquet of flowers or even seen a huge field of them and thought, “Wow! Beautiful! … I wonder what they mean?” Well, throughout history, plants and flowers have been an important part of human society. Some plants are used for medicine, some for cooking, some to brighten up a room or even just to let a loved one know that you’re thinking of them.
Surprisingly, different plants and flowers have been given special meanings, which makes it a lot more special if you think about it, so come along with me, and let’s learn some more about flowers, especially the pretty bluebonnets.
Language of the Flowers
Floriography is the fancy name for the language of the flowers and has been around for centuries. Plants and flowers have always been used to convey special coded messages, especially in matters of love. Bouquets and corsages have been around as early as Medival Times. Special flower arrangements were made into accessories and worn to send messages, essentially, the first flirty text was a cute little bundle of flowers.
Miscommunication of the Flower
Unfortunately, as in most languages, miscommunication made its way into the arrangements. Specific arrangements were seen more as a negative message than a flirty one. So Florigraphy was born and many, many dictionaries with detailed meanings and arrangements were created. Therefore, that flirty bouquet of bright red roses, was taken as the love message it was meant to be.
The Spirit of the Bluebonnet
The bluebonnets are used as the symbol of bravery, admiration, and sacrifice. One of the many stories of the Bluebonnet highlights the bravery and sacrifice. One year there was a really bad drought. A tribal chief had asked each person in his tribe to sacrifice something precious to the Great Spirits to bring them rain and end the drought. No one gave up anything, except for one young orphaned girl; she gave up the last gift she had of her parents to save the tribe. The Great Spirits were so moved by her bravery, that they immediately sent down the rain and once the rain had stopped, a field of bluebonnets was left, to remind the people of the brave sacrifice of the young girl.
The Flower of Texas
Did you know that the Bluebonnet is the official flower of the State of Texas? This vibrant blue bloom was made the state flower in 1901, beating out the cactus jack and cotton ball. These beauties bloom in the early spring and thrive in sunny areas, you can see them along the highways in Texas. They truly represent Texas pride and heritage!
Planting Your Own Bluebonnets
Bluebonnets are a beautiful flower and would make an excellent addition to any garden. However, they can be a bit tricky to grow if not in their natural climate. As fall is the best time to plant these beauties, here is a quick 7-step process that could help you grow your own Bluebonnets:
- It is best to plant bluebonnet seeds in a well-drained area of soil with a lot of Sun. These beauties thrive in the Sunlight.
- Make sure that your soil is loose with a good amount of compost with enough drainage and nutrients.
- Now it’s time to sow the seeds, it is best to plant the seeds in the fall, as they will be able to bloom come spring.
- Water the seeds lightly. Make sure that the soil stays moist until the seeds start to germinate.
- Fertilize the seedlings sparingly, these beautiful bluebonnets are well adapted to nutrient-poor soils.
- Keep the area weed-free to prevent any nutrient competition for your bluebonnets. Remember, we want your bluebonnets to thrive, not the pesky weeds!
- Now it’s time to enjoy your blooms, once bluebonnets have bloomed, they require little care and will continue to bloom on an annual basis.
An Admirable Flower
Many plants and flowers hold special meanings and messages, the bluebonnet is one of them. So next time, you feel the need to let someone special in your life know that you admire them and their bravery, be sure to give them a bluebonnet or two. Be careful though, make sure you and your furry friends do not eat this flower, as this is a poisonous plant!
Thank you for following along! I hope you add some bluebonnets to your garden!
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