Your Guide to Spring Flowers

Spring is in full swing, and we're finally starting to see pops of color in nature. In fact, spring's various flowers may be one of the best parts of the season! Whether you're fortunate enough to have an outdoor garden, looking to add some new houseplants or just searching for the perfect fresh bouquet to bring a little nature indoors, spring flowers are the perfect way to welcome the change in weather and spend some time with nature. 

Of course, there are tons of blooms that make their appearances in spring, so how is one to choose which beautiful blossoms to add to a holistic space? These are a few of our favorite options for getting your hands dirty or bringing that perfect cutting to the dining room table. 

Peonies

Peonies are perennials that bloom primarily in spring, last through summer, and are able to survive the winter as well. In Chinese culture, the peony is known as the "King of Flowers" and represents richness and honor. Peonies are hardy flowers that can be found in shades of red, white and yellow, and they can be grown outside in sunlight and well-drained soil or coaxed to grow indoors in clay pots near sunny windows. 

Tulips

Tulips are one of the most popular symbols of spring, as they represent new and eternal life. They made our Mother's Day list too! Tulips are mid-spring blooms, primarily from April to May, and come in a range of different colors and styles. There are over 3,000 registered varieties of tulips, all of which make beautiful fresh flower arrangements! Whether you're planting outdoors or in your apartment with clay pots, tulips do need a "winter" season, so be sure to plant before winter or use a chilling treatment inside.

Lilies of the Valley

This white, bell-shaped flower is a late-spring, highly fragrant bloom that makes a lovely addition to a fresh flower bouquet or a beautiful potted plant. As a note, Lily of the Valley is poisonous, so keep out of reach of children and pets (especially adorable chihuahuas!). Outdoors or inside, lilies of the valley need well-draining soil and light to moderate shade. Or you can bring nature indoors as cuttings and show them off in a beautiful vase! 

Daffodils

Another mid-spring bloom that grows in many colors (yellow, white, orange, pink), daffodils are a spring staple for bringing in the season. These common flowers are often the first sign to many that spring has sprung, and they're beautiful outdoors, potted indoors or cut for bouquets and posies. Plant them outdoors before winter, spaced apart with moist, but well-drained soil, or coax them out indoors in a deep pot with cold treatment. 

Hyacinth

Let's not forget the beautiful hyacinth and grape hyacinth, early-spring blooms that also symbolize the birth of a new season. Greek legend has that hyacinth first grew from the blood of a Greek named Hyakinthos. Jealous that Apollo was teaching Hyakinthos, whom they both admired, to throw a discus, Zephyr blew the discus back at Hyakinthos, killing him. Even with a deadly story, these flowers bloom beautifully in shades of white, peach, salmon, orange, yellow, pink, red, purple, lavender and blue. Plant them outdoors in the fall or bring indoors as coaxed houseplants or gorgeous flower arrangements! 

There are, naturally, almost as many spring flowers as there are regions of the world. If our favorites don't spark joy for you, also try pansies, anemones, hibiscus, hydrangea, birds of paradise, freesias, amaryllis or any other flower that makes an appearance during the spring season. No matter which blossoms you choose, remember to bring a little nature, and a pop of color, into your holistic space this spring!

by Anjie Cho

6 Symbolic Flowers for Mother's Day

Mother's Day is this weekend, and giving Mom flowers is a long tradition on this holiday. In feng shui, many of the adjustments we make are almost as much about intention as they are precise "rules." Of course, using the right cures are important, but the symbolism of making changes in your life and space is paramount. 

In the same way, certain flowers can infuse meaning into the act of giving bouquets or other arrangements for any holiday, especially one as symbolic as Mother's Day. Take a look at the six most meaningful flowers to give Mom for her special day. 

Roses

Although roses are typically considered to represent more romantic feelings of love, they can also be representative of motherly love, depending on the choice of colors. 

Roses were thought to be sacred to the Greek goddess, Isis, often seen as the ideal mother, and in some belief systems, they also symbolize the Virgin Mary. 

Opt for pink roses to symbolize grace, elegance, appreciation, happiness and charity. In varying shades, pink roses represent grace, gratitude and joyful youth, and on a feng shui level, pink is the color associated with the Relationship bagua area, which is also associated with mothers. 

If pink isn't your style, yellow roses also signify friendship and joy, devotion and a caring nature. Opt for white to symbolize virtue, purity, reverence and good will, or go with a multi-colored bouquet to represent a wealth of positive energy. 

Carnations

Carnations are also an extremely popular flower for Mother's Day celebrations, and for good reason. Carnations were first made popular by the original founder of Mother's Day, Anna Jarvis, who distributed white carnations as her mother's favorite flower in honor of the holiday. They have long been known as representative of love, purity, faith, fascination, beauty and distinction. 

In the Christian faith, carnations were also believed to have first appeared from the ground where Mary cried over the death of Jesus, and for this reason they are symbolic of a mother's eternal love. 

Carnations are a traditional Mother's Day flower and are symbolic in white, as good luck, loyalty and charity; in pink, as gratitude and love; and in red as admiration, love and heartfelt affection. 

Tulips

Tulips, too, are fantastic flowers to give to your mother this May. Typically associated with Spring and Easter, tulips represent new and eternal life, comfort, coziness and happiness, and their general message is one of love. 

Tulips range in color from white to orange, and the symbolism of each color is slightly different. To communicate feelings of caring, warmth and affection and loving concern, choose a shade of pink. To symbolize true, deep love and admiration, opt for red. White symbolizes purity and heaven itself, while cream tulips send a message of eternal love. At the brighter end of the spectrum, yellow tulips represent cheerful, fond thoughts and orange is a color symbolic of enthusiasm, excitement and energetic love. 

As with roses, you can stick to one meaningful color, or send your mom many messages with a multi-colored bouquet!

Daisies

As a long-standing traditional symbol of beauty and purity, daisies make a powerful addition to any Mother's Day bouquet, or a beautiful selection in themselves. White daisies symbolize the innocence of a mother's love, the purity of her patience and never-ending compassion. 

For a more cheerful, playful message, choose gerbera daisies! 

Orchids

Orchids are another excellent choice for Mother's Day. Orchids represent love, luxury, refinement, beauty and strength, qualities your mom most likely possesses! In Chinese culture, the orchid is also a symbol for "many children."

Orchids are also a powerful feng shui gift, as they are traditionally given as plants, which add the wood element, the energy of new life and natural beauty to your space. If Mom is single, orchids can also be placed strategically on her bedroom nightstand to attract an upright partner! 

Lilies

Finally, lilies are a popular choice for Mother's Day gifts as well and are rich in meaning. White lilies signify purity and majesty, while cala lilies represent beauty. The day lily even symbolizes motherhood in Chinese culture. 

Of course, these are far from the only choices for Mother's Day gifts. Other flowers with great symbolism for this holiday include lilacs, irises, sunflowers, violets, azaleas, bluebells and camellias. Fresh flowers are a great feng shui addition to any home. They attract joy and transformation in addition to being pretty! If possible, consider also choosing a plant with these flowers as a Mother's Day gift. As I mentioned earlier, plants are very symbolic in feng shui, bringing in the wood element and representing new beginnings, kind-heartedness and fresh energy. 

I hope you're able to find the perfect gift for your mom this Mother's Day, and if you're looking to bring flowers into Mom's home, keep these meanings in mind! Happy Mother's Day!

by Anjie Cho

The Secret to Flexible Decorating: the Picture Ledge

The Secret to Flexible Decorating- the Picture Ledge.jpg

Does this scenario sound familiar? You cuddle into the corner of your favorite chair. You pull a comfy throw onto your lap while closely hugging a cup of steaming tea, coffee or fire water. And you sigh, content and happy, until your eye rests upon that framed bit of artwork on the wall and you realize you’re ready for a change.

The good news is that the things we hang on our walls can be easily swapped out and updated for a fresh, new look. The challenge, however, can be finding a comparable piece to hang in that exact spot. Can the new piece use the same nail hole? Will it fit in the space of the item that you’re replacing? Will you need to create new holes in the wall for another sort of hanger? Do additional items need to be moved around to accommodate your new find? The more change this seemingly simple update requires, the more reluctant you may be to make it. 

Don’t worry! There’s a simple solution. Put down the hammer and don’t hang another thing before you read this. The secret to creating an easily updatable room is the picture ledge. Whether you like to replace your wall art each season or you want the flexibility to change things up on a whim, a picture ledge gives you a creative space to easily swap pieces without drilling new holes in the wall and alleviates spacing headaches each time your décor evolves. 

Let’s talk about the basics. Start by selecting the ledge length that best suits your decorating style and room size. You can find pre-made ledges in a variety of lengths or you can DIY a ledge to your specifications. If you’re going the make-it-yourself route, get creative with the materials you use. Pinterest is a great place to find inspiration and decorations for such a project. 

Generally, if you’re going to place the picture ledge over a couch, place the bottom edge of the shelf about 10 inches above the back of the couch. If you’re going to hang it elsewhere, keep in mind, you’re aiming for “eye level” artwork on a wall. A good rule of thumb is to hang your ledge 4 to 4 ½ feet from the floor. 

What goes on the ledge? For starters, there’s the obvious framed artwork. It is, after all, called a picture ledge. But don’t stop there! These ledges with their grooves and/or framed edges are ideal for displaying things like decorative plates, forward facing books, thin vases, and collectibles. Think outside the box! Hang some picture ledges in your bedroom and display your favorite shoes. Use these unique shelves in the kitchen to arrange your go-to bottles of spices and seasonings. Try a picture ledge in a child’s bedroom or play room to display those awesome Lego creations and favorite toys. Anything that will securely fit on the flat space available is fair game. Have fun with it, and the next time you glance up and realize it’s time for a change, go for it! Swap out your old shelf décor for something fresh and new without any worry.

by Anjie Cho