Open the bloom of your heart and become a gift of beauty to the world. – Bryant McGill, author.

The cockscomb plant is an addition to our garden this year.  The unusual inflorescence and large size of the flowers attract many visitors to our garden.

Ccockscomb (Celosia Cristata) of the Amaranth family (Amaranthaceae) and it comes from India. Amaranth family of plants include beets and quinoa.

The flower gets its name from its similarity to the cock’s comb on a rooster’s head.

Our friend of Portuguese origin gifted the cockscomb seeds last year and said, “These plants originated in India first introduced to Europe in the mid sixteenth century.”

“It could well be that Vasco-da-Gama took it from Kerala on his second return voyage in 1502!” I replied.

Cockscomb is also known as Dracula or Novelty Celosia. Flower head and plant reaching 12-16″ in height.

This bushy plant has dense, brain-like flowers with a woolen texture.  Thus, nicknamed wool flowers or brain celosia.

The flowers are used in traditional medicine to treat everything from headaches to menstrual cramps. 

The colours range from white and yellow to shades of orange, red, and purple. The flowers can be dried and used in floral arrangements.

Cockscomb plants produce simple oval leaves that are arranged alternately along the stem and often are borne on a reddish petiole (leafstalk).

The small flowers have colourful bracts and are densely arranged in showy inflorescences.

The flowers are tiny and hermaphrodite (Hermaphroditic plants have male and female reproductive organs within the same flower), and are packed in narrow, pyramidal, plume-like heads 10–25 cm long with vivid colors including shades of orange, red, purple, yellow and cream.

The garden reconciles human art and wild nature, hard work and deep pleasure, spiritual practice and the material world. It is a magical place because it is not divided. —Thomas Moore, writer, poet, and lyricist

During my Indian Army days, colour pink raised curiosity as it referred to the instructors’ notes during various courses and assessors’ notes during various military exercises.  These notes were printed on pink sheets and was a prized possession for the students and assesses.

June marks the end of the Tulip season in our garden and is the month of Pinks. The pink colour stands out on the lush green background of the lawn.

Neon Star- characterised by their fragrant fluorescent pink blooms, used as edging plants in our garden. The vibrant pink flowers cover the evergreen, blue-grey foliage.

Pink was first used as a color name in the late 17^th century by a Greek botanist for the ruffled edges of carnations. and is the color most often associated with charm, politeness, sensitivity, tenderness, sweetness, childhood, femininity, and romance. In the 21^st century, pink is seen as a symbol of femininity, though in the 1920s, pink was seen as a color that reflected masculinity.

Rock Soapwort is a vigorous, low creeping plant. Plants form a low mound of bright-green leaves, smothered by starry bright-pink flowers.

Former first lady Mamie Eisenhower loved pink and had pink decor throughout the White House. Elvis Presley had a pink 1955 Cadillac.

Clematis is one of the showiest vines you can grow. With many types of shapes and colours, these plants dress up any kind of structure they climb.

Thyme flowers are typically lavender-colored and edible. They grow at the top of the stems in a sphere-shape with elongated vertical spikes.

Pink makes us crave sugar, so it is often used by shops selling ice-cream or other sweets.

Peony is named after Paeon (also spelled Paean), a student of Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine and healing.   Marco Polo described Peonies, when he first saw them as Roses as big as Cabbages.

Jaipur City is called The Pink City, because of its giant forts, palaces and its distinguished pink colour.

Foxgloves are eye-catching tall, slender flowering plants with flowers in clusters of tubular shaped blooms in colors of white, lavender, yellow, pink, red, and purple.

Astilbe, a shade loving plants and it symbolises patience and dedication. In Greek, the name Astilbe means “without brilliance” or “without sheen” and alludes to the fact that the individual flowers of this species are small and inconspicuous.

Petunias are from the tomato, potato and tobacco plant family. And they drive their name from the South American word Petun, which is another name for Tobacco.

Lily has been a symbol of life, creativity and good luck they are also known as are known as the Flower of Good Fortune.  More than a beautiful flower; it expresses emotions – love and appreciation to offering sympathy and support.

With the advent of ultrasound came Gender Reveal Parties or Baby Showers with Pink for Girls and Blue for Boys.  Assigning colours to babies enforces a belief that they are supposed to grow and fit into. If you’re a girl, you must like pink, and that also means you’re girly. If you’re a boy, you must have blue, and no pink, or else you aren’t manly enough. If you’re a girl and you like blue, you’re a tomboy.

Gendered colors are totally outdated, and we should stop pushing colours on children if we want a world with less stereotypes, less sexism, and less prejudice.

What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.  William Shakespeare

For centuries, roses inspired love and brought beauty to those who received them. The rose’s rich heritage dates back thousands of years. We have over fifty bushes in our garden.

Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, was fond of red rose that he wore a red rose on his jacket until his last breath.

It is said that the floors of Cleopatra’s palace were carpeted with delicate rose petals.  Shakespeare refers to roses more than 50 times throughout his writings. It is also New York’s state flower.

Age the world’s oldest living rose is believed to be 1,000 years old. Today it continues to flourish on the wall of the Hildesheim Cathedral of Germany. Roses are truly ageless. Recently, archaeologists discovered the fossilised remains of wild roses over 40 million years old.

Black and blue Roses don’t exist. Black Roses are very dark red, and blue pigments don’t occur naturally – the blue colour can only be achieved through genetic modification in a lab.

The largest rose bloom ever bred was a pink rose measuring approximately 33 inches in diameter, bred by Nikita K. Rulhoksoffski from San Onofre, California.

A red rose is an expression of love. Red roses can also be used to show respect, admiration, or devotion. A deep red rose can be used to show regret and sorrow. The number of red roses given has a special meaning as well. 12 red roses are the most popular number to give; it means Be mine and I love you.

There are a lot of variations of the pink rose. Usually, pink roses are used to express gentle emotions such as admiration, joy, gratitude and deep or endless love.

Dark pink rose blooms may mean deep gratitude and appreciation. They also express elegance and grace.

Light pink rose blooms are symbols of pleasantness and innocence.

White is the color of purity, innocence and sacred love. It represents love that is eternal and endures beyond death. White roses usually may symbolise a new start, and it is a custom for brides to hold them when she walks down the aisle at her wedding. In certain faiths, the white rose can represent the sanctity of a marriage. White roses can be used to show sympathy or humility. They also may be about spiritual things.

Yellow roses are usually used as an expression of exuberance. Yellow roses show feelings of joy, warmth, and sometimes welcome. They are symbols of friendship and caring. The yellow rose, unlike some of the other roses, does not mean or express any romance.

Orange roses remind most people of a fiery blaze. These fiery blooms are symbols of passion and energy. Orange roses can be used to show desire and pride.

The color of burgundy is a symbol of beauty.

Green roses (these are sometimes white roses with shades of green) can symbolise best wishes, luck, and blessings for a good life or recovery of good health.

A violet or purple rose may show protection, and also a sense of majesty, royalty, and splendor. These roses are used to show adoration.

A lavender rose, like its color, shows enchantment. It also expresses love at first sight.

Peach-colored rose is gifted when you are grateful for someone or just want to show your appreciation.  It shows appreciation and gratitude or a different way to say, Thank You!   They symbolise innocence and purity.

Cream roses are indicative of charm and thoughtfulness.  Gifting a bunch of cream roses is an ideal way to show someone that you care – but without any romantic intentions.

The rose is one among the only three flowers mentioned in the Bible. The others are lilies and camphire – akin to henna.

The rose also grows into some fruit. The fruit is called a Rose Hip. It is shaped like a berry, and most are red in colour, but you can find black and dark purple versions.

In 2002 a miniature rose, named Overnight Scentsation, was taken to space to assist in studies that aimed to show effects of low gravity on the smell of roses. The study also aimed at learning how to improve the fragrances of several consumer products.

Due to the heavy blooms, staking the stem is essential, as the flower is top heavy and will bend, break or fall over

After a heavy downpour, the petals of old flowers carpets the ground beneath.

How did it happen that their lips came together? How does it happen that birds sing, that snow melts, that the rose unfolds, that the dawn whitens behind the stark shapes of trees on the quivering summit of the hill? A kiss, and all was said.  Victor Hugo

Peonies are outrageously beautiful in bloom, with lush foliage. They bloom from late May through June in Toronto.

Peony is named after Paeon, a student of Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine and healing. They are also the 12th anniversary flower. The peony symbolises honour, fortune, and a happy relationship. It is the state flower of Indiana.

No wonder Marco Polo described Peonies, when he first saw them, as: Roses as big as Cabbages. Their stems are not strong enough to support the heavy blossoms, hence they need support. Peony cages are placed in spring around the plant as they grow.

Peonies – native to China – Chinese name for the peony is Sho Yu meaning Most Beautiful.

Peonies of three types grow in our garden- Tree Peonies, Herbaceous Peonies and Itoh peonies.

Herbaceous peonies (also known as bush peonies) die to the ground in Winter. They re-emerge in March, or when the snow melts. Many find that they are deer resistant, but not always. Peonies are long lived, minimal care plants.

Tree peonies with their woody stems that t defoliate in the fall, but the woody stems stay intact, above the ground. They tend to bloom earlier and with larger flowers than the bush peony.

Itoh or Intersectional peonies are a cross between the herbaceous (or bush) peony and the tree peony. These crosses have produced new, exciting colors. The plants have the lovely leaf form of the tree peonies, but die to the ground in the Winter.

Itoh Peonies derive its name from Japanese horticulturist, Dr. Toichi Itoh, who successfully created seven peony hybrids from a tree peony bred with an herbaceous peony. Dr. Itoh passed away before ever seeing his creations bloom. Years later, American horticulturist, Louis Smirnow bought some of these original Itoh peonies from Dr. Itoh’s widow and continued Itoh’s work.

Peonies come in yellow, red, pink, and white colours and there are neither blue nor black peonies. Peonies can live up to a hundred years.

The irony with peony flowers is that the flowers last only two weeks and if there is a shower, even lesser.

Any type of plant with blue flowers is always worth a closer look because the color blue is not always easy to find in any garden. Blue is a relatively rare colour in nature. This post is about the blue flowers in our garden that bloomed this spring.

Lungwort with its lung-like leaves, a kind of heart-shaped leaves are slightly hairy on the upper side and marked by several white or pale spots. Any plant whose name refers to a body part, it mostly resembles a human organ and was believed that the plant can be used to treat diseases on that organ. This is the case with the common lungwort, which modern science proved to be a mere myth.

In spring, the little blue flowers appear on elongated stems . Each inflorescence has 5 to 15 flowers with five petals. The flowers start red and as they age, they change color to purple and finally blue. This change in colour occurs because the pigments are affected by pH, being red in acidic environments and blue in alkaline ones.

Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’ has hairy heart-shaped frosty silver leaves and sprays of blue flowers in spring.  

Bugloss comes from Greek meaning Ox Tongue with reference to the roughness and shape of the leaves.

The leaves are intricately detailed with narrow green veins.

Clematis native to China and Japan, the name Clematis comes from the Greek word klematis, meaning vine, is known as the queen of climbers.

Large double purple-blue flowers adorn our garden in late spring. With the summer setting in, white, pink, red, and purple clematis bloom. The silver center of the petals expands as the flowers open.

Petunias are from the tomato, potato and tobacco plant family. The name comes from South American word Petun, which is another name for Tobacco. Back in the old days it was a huge insult to gift Petunia’s as it was believed that they carried the message – I don’t like you.

Blue is my faourite colour.

Daffodils, also known by their botanical name Narcissus, are the first flowers to bloom in our garden. The name originates from the Latin word affodill which comes from the Greek word asphodelus, which refers to a genus of flowers that emerge from fleshy rhizomes. It is believed that the Dutch put de, meaning the, in front of the word affodill, which eventually led to the name Daffodil.

Daffodils symbolise rebirth, new beginnings, hope, joy, and good luck. This symbolism could be because daffodils emerge first every spring to light up barren landscapes with their cheerful yellow, orange, and white flowers.

The centre of a Daffodil is a crown-like structure called a trumpet and is also known a Corona! 

Daffodils are the official tenth wedding anniversary flower. Chinese believe that if the Daffodils bloom for the Chinese New Year, it will bring luck to the whole household.

The Hyacinth bloom early spring accompanying the Daffodils and is a member of the asparagus family.

According Greek mythology legend, a young Hyacinth was killed when Apollo and Zephyrus were fighting over his affections. It is said hyacinths sprung up from his spilled blood.

The Hyacinth flower symbolises sport or play. Different coloured hyacinths carry different meanings. The blue Hyacinth signifies sincerity.

Pink hyacinths mean ‘playful joy’ while the purple flowers symbolise deep regret and white represents love and prayer.

When proud-pied April, dressed in all his trim, April hath put a spirit of youth in everything, – Sonnet 98: From you have I been absent in the spring by William Shakespeare.

That is what the spirit of spring brings to each one of us. In Spring, the earth laughs in flowers.  It brings in cheer and happiness.  It is a reminder to us about the warmer days ahead.  If we did not have the freezing winter, the spring will never be so pleasant. 

We enjoy everyday of Spring more because it is the weather of birds chirping; bees flying from flower to flower collecting nectar; butterflies fluttering showing off their colourful wings.

The first blooms of spring always make my heart sing as the flowers never worry about how they are going to bloom. They bloom and turn toward the light and that makes them beautiful.

To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow and at the end of the day in the Spring, I smell like dirt. The very first flowers that appear in our garden at the onset of Spring are on the Weeping Pussy Willow. The Salix Caprea ‘Pendula’ is commonly known as the Goat Willow or Weeping Pussy Willow, which belongs to the Caprea genus of flowering trees.

The soft coating of hairs acts as insulation to protect these early bloomers from cold temperatures. Most other willows make similar flowers, and since they’re among the very first to bloom, they’re especially delightful—they signal the onset of spring. The tree derives its name from these soft silver tufts that resemble tiny cats’ paws, feeling so much like fur.

Among the fruit trees in our garden, the first to bloom are the apricots.

The pale pink and fragrant flowers are 5-petaled and appear singularly or in pairs.  Cultivation of apricot trees in China dates back 3000 years. From there apricot trees spread west throughout central Asia into Armenia. The Romans introduced apricots to Europe in 70-60 BC through Greece and Italy. Apricot trees probably moved to the US through English settlers on the East Coast,

For centuries, roses have inspired love and brought beauty to those who have received them. In fact, the rose’s rich heritage dates back thousands of years. People have been passionate about roses since the beginning of time. We have over fifty bushes in our garden.

Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, was fond of Red rose. He always wore a Red rose on his jacket until his last breath.

Red is the most popular color of roses sold at Valentine’s Day, making up 60% of sales worldwide.

It is said that the floors of Cleopatra’s palace were carpeted with delicate rose petals. Shakespeare refers to roses more than 50 times throughout his writings. It is also New York’s state flower.

1,000 years old. That’s the age the world’s oldest living rose is thought to be. Today it continues to flourish on the wall of the Hildesheim Cathedral of Germany.

It was in seventeenth century that French explorer Samuel deChamplain brought the first cultivated roses to North America. Roses are truly ageless. Recently, archaeologists discovered the fossilized remains of wild roses over 40 million years old.

The people of ancient Greece used roses on festive occasions to adorn themselves with garlands of roses and splash themselves with rose-scented oil. Napoleon’s wife Josephine so adored roses, she grew more than 250 varieties.

The largest rose bloom ever bred was a pink rose measuring approximately 33 inches in diameter, bred by Nikita K. Rulhoksoffski from San Onofre, California.

Red roses are the traditional symbol for love, romance. It reflects beauty and perfection. Myth has it that Venus’ son Cupid accidentally shot arrows into the rose garden when a bee stung him, and it was the ‘sting’ of the arrows that caused the roses to grow thorns. When Venus walked through the garden and pricked her foot on a thorn, it was the droplets of her blood which turned the roses red.

Pink Rose depicts gentleness, grace, gladness, joy and sweetness. It also conveys happiness, gracefulness, and admiration. It’s an elegant choice, perfect for a daughter, mother, or sister.

Bright, cheerful, and joyful are what come to mind when thinking of a yellow rose. Giving yellow roses can tell someone the joy they bring you and the friendship you share.

White roses, the purist of colors, represent innocence, purity, and charm. White roses are traditionally used in weddings and can represent new beginnings. Why white roses are so special is no mystery – it’s a myth. Perhaps it started with the Romans who believed white roses grew where the tears of Venus fell as she mourned the loss of her beloved Adonis.

The fun, fiery orange color conveys a message of happiness and joy. Give them to friends or family—really anyone who could use a mood-lifter! Orange roses symbolise passionate romance.

Purple roses range from lavender to darker hues, is a colour of royalty. It symbolises love at first sight and sincerity.

Love at first sight or just an enchanting way to say, I love you! Lavender roses can offer a daily reminder of your love and eagerness to grow your relationship.

Peach coloured roses are a sweet choice as a gift to your sister, teacher, or friend. It depicts appreciation and gratitude or a different way to say Thank You! They symbolise innocence and purity.

Cream roses are indicative of charm and thoughtfulness and goes well with pink thank you roses. Gifting a bunch of cream roses is an ideal way to show someone that you care – but without any romantic intentions.

“How did it happen that their lips came together? How does it happen that birds sing, that snow melts, that the rose unfolds, that the dawn whitens behind the stark shapes of trees on the quivering summit of the hill? A kiss, and all was said.” Victor Hugo

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” William Shakespeare

Peonies are outrageously beautiful in bloom, with lush foliage. They bloom from late May through June in Toronto. The flowers last only two weeks.

Their stems are not strong enough to support the heavy blossoms, hence they need support. Peony cages are placed in spring around the plant as they grow.

Peony is named after Paeon (also spelled Paean), a student of Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine and healing. They are also the 12^th anniversary flower – because the peony symbolises honour, fortune, and a happy relationship.. It is the state flower of Indiana.

Peonies are native to China. They are highly valued there, and are often referred to as the King of Flowers. They were the national flower prior to 1929, when they were replaced by the plum tree. Chinese name for the peony is Sho Yu meaning Most Beautiful.

Peonies of three types grow in our garden- Tree Peonies, Herbaceous Peonies and Itoh peonies.

Herbaceous peonies (also known as bush peonies) die to the ground in Winter. They re-emerge in March, or when the snow melts. Many find that they are deer resistant, but not always. Peonies are long lived, minimal care plants.

Tree peonies are called tree peonies for the woody stems that they have. Tree peonies have woody stems that defoliate in the fall, but the woody stems stay intact, above the ground. They tend to bloom earlier and with larger flowers than the bush peony.

Itoh or Intersectional peonies are a cross between the herbaceous (or bush) peony and the tree peony. These crosses have produced new, exciting colors. The plants have the lovely leaf form of the tree peonies, but die to the ground in the Winter. Since they are recent introductions and are still in short supply they command a high price.

Itoh Peonies derive its name from Japanese horticulturist, Dr. Toichi Itoh, who successfully created seven peony hybrids from a tree peony bred with an herbaceous peony. Dr. Itoh passed away before ever seeing his creations bloom. Years later, American horticulturist, Louis Smirnow bought some of these original Itoh peonies from Dr. Itoh’s widow and continued Itoh’s work.

Peonies like full sun, and though they can manage with half a day, they bloom best in a sunny spot. They come in every color except for blue. Pink, and white, are the most popular colours. Peonies can live upto a hundred years. In ancient times peonies were believed to relieve headaches and help with asthma.

The Netherlands is the largest cut peony producer (over 40 % of the estimated world production.)surprisingly, Alaska comes next.

In two weeks the flowers wither and the pods are exposed. Like most hybrid plants, the seeds of the peony plant will not breed true when planted and are unlikely to produce a flower like the original parent plant.