Plants for a Special Occasion – A Golden Wedding Rose

There aren’t many things that evoke feelings of love and passion like a rose. In fact, flowers have been given for centuries to convey a variety of messages. Roses, in particular red ones, have long been a favorite, particularly for lovers. But different flowers can be used to convey a number of different things. As an expression of remembrance, support, sympathy, apology, or just to say thanks.

Floriography, is the name given to the language of flowers, and it has been spoken for hundreds of years. Flowers were used by the Ancient Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, and the Chinese, in legends and stories, but giving flowers as a gift wasn’t introduced until the Middle Ages. The language of flowers was discovered by English and French visitors to Turkey, and became a popular way for Victorians to express feelings they were uncomfortable showing.

Giving your loved one a rose to celebrate a golden wedding anniversary is the perfect way to convey your love and affection. Traditionally, it has been men who gave flowers to their partners, but many women are discovering that guys love to receive flowers too.

Green fingers aren’t a requirement

We appreciate there are many of you reading this who don’t consider themselves blessed with green fingers. With the best will in the world, and the best care, every plant you’re given will quickly fade and die. Even a bouquet of the freshest blooms will lose their beauty and the meaning behind the gift will be gone forever. However, there is a way to give the gift of a flower. A gold dipped rose is the answer. A single bloom is picked at the height of its beauty and preserved for eternity by carefully dipping it in gold, silver, or platinum. Many people keep them as keepsakes to be handed down as a family heirloom.

How to pick your golden wedding flowers

There are a number of reasons to pick flowers for an anniversary gift.

• The plant could have the same name as the person you’re giving the gift to.
• It may flower at a special time of the year, such as a wedding anniversary date.
• The plant has a name that relates to a special occasion.
• It could be a favorite of the recipient, their favorite color or have a memorable scent.

There a number of things to consider when buying flowers or plants as a gift:

• Does the recipient have a garden big enough to accommodate a growing plant?
• Can the plant be grown in a container if space is limited?
• Some plants require very specific growing conditions in order to flourish. Is the soil right in the recipients garden for the type of plant you’ll be giving?
• Would a houseplant be a better choice?
• A garden center gift voucher will b a good idea if you’re not sure of the answers to the questions above.

Roses are popular as a golden anniversary gift

There are a number of different themes associated with a wedding anniversary celebration. For a 50th anniversary the theme is obviously gold. There is also a flower that has been traditionally associated with this milestone event, which is the violet. Not normally given in a bouquet, but more likely for the gift to be a living plant to nurture in the garden. Not many associate such a flower with a 50th wedding anniversary, which has led to yellow roses becoming very popular as a golden wedding rose.

If you’re wondering why violets were chosen for a 50th wedding anniversary we’ve been able to trace it back to Josephine and Napoleon. It is the flower she wore on her wedding day, and Napoleon marked every passing year after with an arrangement of violets.

Yellow roses have become very popular for a golden wedding anniversary gift, possibly because of the color, but also likely because of the many aptly named varieties. Such as:

• Golden Moment
• Golden Celebration
• Golden Smiles
• Golden Wedding
• Avec Amour
• Perpetually Yours
• Glorious

A golden wedding rose requires care and attention

Roses aren’t the most difficult plant to care for in the garden, but nevertheless there are some people who have no luck with living plants. And the problem with a bouquet of blooms is that their beauty quickly fades. How can you help a bouquet last much longer? Keep reading for our cut flower care guide.

How to care for cut flowers
Don’t be tempted to pick a bunch of golden wedding roses from the local garage on the way home from work. Who knows how long they’ve been sat on the shelf waiting for some attention. Instead try and source the freshest flowers for a bouquet, and keep them in a pitcher of fresh water until the time comes for you to give them as a gift. Every couple of days they will appreciate being taken out of the water and refreshed with clean. You’ll also need to keep re-cutting the stems.

When you buy flowers from a florist, or a large store, there will be a helpful sachet or two of cut-flower food. So don’t throw this away as it contains all the necessary ingredients to keep the blooms fresh for much longer. The flowers will also last longer if kept in a cool place and out of direct sunlight.

Quite a lot to think about and remember. Which is why we love the gift of a rose dipped in a precious metal. No need for perfect conditions and regular care. A quick dust every now and then is all that’s required to make such a gift last forever.