A LOVELY ROSES
Did you know that flowers have meanings associated with them? And, that there are flowers befitting specific occasions?
Flowers are a part of the most important occasions in our lives. They are conspicuously present on birthdays, funerals, graduation, weddings, etc. forming an integral part of our lives. Some flowers have religious significance too.
Flowers And Islam
Not much religious use of flowers is seen among Muslims except on occasions like marriages and funerals. On the day of the wedding the groom leads his family to the bride's home. Upon arrival at the bride´s place, the bride's sisters welcome the groom&39;s party by playfully hitting them with a stick wrapped around flowers. The groom may wear a special head-dress of flowers for the wedding.................
It is impossible for any person to be completely unaware of flower meanings. Everyone knows that a red rose stands for romantic love and that one does not send yellow roses to anyone in mourning. However, meanings are associated not only with roses but also with other flowers.
Some Interesting Facts About Roses
- The birthplace of the cultivated Rose was probably Northern Persia, on the Caspian, or Faristan on the Gulf of Persia.
- Historically, the oldest Rose fossils have been found in Colorado, dating back to more than 35 million years ago.
- Roses were considered the most sacred flowers in ancient Egypt and were used as offerings for the Goddess Isis. Roses have also been found in Egyptian tombs, where they were formed into funeral wreaths.
- Confucius, 551 BC to 479 BC, reported that the Imperial Chinese library had many books on Roses.
- Ancient Sumerians of Mesopotamia (in the Tigris-Euphrates River Valley) mentioned Roses in a cuneiform tablet (a system of writing) written in approximately 2860 BC.
- The English were already cultivating and hybridizing Roses in the 15th Century when the English War of Roses took place. The winner of the war, Tudor Henry VII, created the Rose of England (Tudor Rose) by crossbreeding other Roses.
- While no Black Rose yet exists, there are some of such a deep Red color as to suggest Black.
- Roses are universal and grown across the world.
- The Netherlands is the world's leading exporter of Roses.
Classification of Roses
Broadly, Roses are divided into three classes-
Species Roses
Species Roses are often called Wild Species Roses. Species Roses often have relatively simple, 5-petaled flowers followed by very colorful hips that last well into the winter, providing food for birds and winter color.
The most popular Rose species for sale today is Rosa rugosa owing to its superior hardiness, disease resistance, and extremely easy maintenance. Species roses are widely hybridized. Wild Species Roses include many different varieties. Wild Species Roses usually bloom once in the summer.
Old Garden Roses
Old Garden Roses have a delicate beauty and wonderful perfume, not often found in modern hybrid tea roses. Old Garden Roses are a diverse group from the those with a wonderful fragrance and great winter hardiness to the tender and lovely tea roses, which are best suited for warm climates.
Old Garden Roses comprise a multifaceted group that in general are easy to grow, disease-resistant and winter-hardy. Old Garden Roses grow in several shrub and vine sizes. Although colors do vary, this class of Roses are usually white or pastel in color. These "antique Roses" are generally preferred for lawns and home gardens. Several groupings of Roses classified as Old Garden Roses areChina Roses, Tea Roses, Moss Roses, Damask Roses, Bourbon Roses, etc.
Modern Roses
Any Rose identified after 1867, is considered a Modern Rose.
Old Garden Roses are the predecessors of Modern Roses. This group of Roses are very popular. The Modern Rose is the result of crossbreeding the hybrid tea with the polyanthus (a variety of primrose).
The colors of Modern Roses are varied, rich and vibrant. The most popular roses found in the class of Modern Roses are the Hybrid Tea Roses, Floribunda Roses, and Grandiflora Roses. Although Modern Roses are adored by florists and gardeners, they do require proper care, and do not adapt well to colder environments.
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