Venting: The Power of Association

September 24, 2012

Dear Readers,

Very recently, I had quite an interesting meeting with a client who hated roses. Now, I always work to make a point not to judge the tastes and preferences of my clients, but her reaction was so strong that it left me intrigued. I decided to to do a gentle inquiry. That’s when she told me a very interesting story. It turns out that her ex-husband used to send her roses every time he cheated on her, and for this reason, she associated the flower with the pain of her betrayal.

I understood quite well the power of association. Whenever I see Birds of Paradise, I am reminded of the many stems that grew wild in my backyard in Panama. Back then, we considered them wild weeds. Once a month, I was in charge of cutting them down with a machete. It is no wonder that, in adulthood, they are one of my least favorite flowers to use in my designs.

Flowers affect us in a number of ways, and like fashion, they go in and out of style. In today’s blog, I would like to know which flowers are in and out of fashion in your particular area? Also, please share your own personal association with flowers. Is there one that has a significant meaning in your life? Please tell us why.

I will start. Phalaenopsis Orchids are very chic in New York while Casablanca lilies are now out of fashion.

I look forward to reading your responses!

Blessings,

Preston

(Photo courtesy of Flickr)

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http://www.brilliantweddings-events.com Heather Coughlin

While I’m not in what I would call a “fashion metropolis”, I am seeing a lot of “filler” arrangements due to cost, such as baby’s breath garland and purple statice, anything that looks wild and rustic. Country weddings are big, with weathered wood and lace, which is complemented by simple, inexpensive flowers.

Personally, I can’t see or smell lilacs without thinking of my mother, who I lost 5 years ago. They were her favorite and I always picked her a huge bunch in the spring to put in a vase. The whole house smelled like lilacs! I even love the color. It brings back very fond memories.
http://noxriddle.wordpress.com/ Sarah

White hydrangea is the popular flower in my area right now. Everyone I know who has married in the last year or so has used white hydrangea. I would say Asiatic lilies are out of style around here.

I have a few flower associations to share. My mom hates yellow roses. I found out the reason has to do with a Mother’s Day event her school used to hold every year. The students wore rose corsages/boutonnieres, but those whose mothers had died were given yellow roses to wear. I can’t imagine why they thought singling students out like that was a good idea! But she now associates yellow roses with death and she hates them.

I, on the other hand, love black magic roses. My husband is a magician, and his agent’s partner owns a flower shop. One day, he brought me home a single black magic rose (he didn’t know what kind it was, he just thought it was pretty). Because of this, when we got married, I used black magic roses throughout the event. Two years passed, and my husband randomly showed up at my work to bring me flowers… specifically, two dozen black magic roses. When I asked why these roses, he said “they were our wedding flower.” I couldn’t believe he remembered, or that he’d listened to any of my bridal nonsense! (He replied, “I listen to everything you say.”) There have been a few more times since then: once, he went out of town for business for a week, and calling him the day he was supposed to come home, he acted as though he’d gotten a late start and wouldn’t be home until 9 that evening (after originally promising he’d be home when I got home from work). I was very depressed… then when I came home, I found him standing on the doorstep with a single black magic rose (he had NOT gotten a late start at all! He just wanted to surprise me.) It’s simply become such a special symbol to the two of us.
http://www.pamelaseventdesign.com Pam Archer

Thank you Heather and Sarah for sharing your stories. I enjoyed reading them, and look forward to others who post their stories.

Vintage/barn weddings are huge here, perhaps due to being a rural area with many gorgeous settings for weddings and the fact that we have a strong attachment to our heritage and ancestry. Lilies are out. Peonies, garden roses, roses, and calla lilies remain the flowers of choice. Hydrangea are popular for summer weddings.

Lilies will always be out in my mind. I do not like working with them and in my mind they represent death, because you see them a lot at funerals.

My mother passed along her love for plants and flowers to me. She told me that working with flowers is the best therapy. She was right. I think of her every time I plant a flower or do a design. It’s a way that I feel close to her, even though she has been gone 30 years. Flowers are the most beautiful of all God’s creation.
http://www.planitwithme.com Kathy

Color me heartbroken….Casablanca Lilies – out??? That has always been my favorite flower. They are big, gorgeous, affordable, the smell is stunning and can fill a room in an instant.

The only flower I’ve ever gotten a strong opposition to are Roses. They are just overdone to death and most brides I work with want nothing to do with them. Having said that, I came home yesterday to a bouquet of Peace Roses “just because” my fiance wanted me to have flowers for the night…so sweet.

I agree about the Birds of Paradise, they are used in every corporate/hotel arrangement I see (at least it feels that way) so I’m not much of a fan anymore; however, flowers in general just make me happy, so although I understand reasons for not “liking” a particular type, how could you “hate” it?