NATIONAL PLANT A FLOWER DAY; MARCH 12

HISTORY OF NATIONAL PLANT A FLOWER DAY

Flowers have changed the face of the earth, quite literally, ever since they made an appearance in the Cretaceous period over 145 million years ago. Before flowers, the world was abundant in ferns and conifers – an endless expanse of green idyll.

Thanks to insects and dinosaurs plowing their way across, flowers diversified rapidly. The explosion of plant varieties and color cascaded into the birth of several plant families we know today.

Flowering plants are vital to existence. They’re food sources that provide humans and animals the sustenance we need to survive.

More than anything, flowers have an uplifting quality that captures the imagination. Many flowers bloom just for a short period, usually in spring or early summer. Although short-lived, few things compare to the beauty of flowers in full bloom. Perhaps their transient yet incomparable beauty inspired the symbolic meanings of flowers across various world cultures.

Across civilizations, flowers have retained certain myths and symbolism. Their fragility has come to represent death or new life. Sometimes they represent gods and goddesses too. But, there’s no denying how flowers in full bloom are a universal expression of joy.

During the late 1800s in Europe, a new concept around flowers became popular. These stunning blooms became a way to represent people’s feelings. Communicating through flower arrangements helped articulate the unsaid. Soon, codebooks to decipher the language of flowers would make communication easier. For example, a field clover meant, “When can I see you again?” A red rose petal meant “Yes.” Green flowers signified the receiver’s heart was made of stone!

The days of complex flower codes may be long gone, but flowers continue to bring joy and meaning to our lives. We may never know who came up with National Plant A Flower Day. The real question isn’t ”why?” but “why not?”

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