While most people buy flowers for holidays such as Valentines Day, Mother's Day, and Christmas, there is never really a wrong time to give someone the gift of flowers.
With the Fourth of July approaching, thoughts of barbecues and fireworks begin to creep into our thoughts. It's a time to gather as a nation and give thanks to those who fought for our freedom.
But if you're thinking of having Fourth of July flowers around to help commemorate the holiday, you need to know which type are the most appropriate. Keep reading to learn which flowers are the most patriotic.
The Best Fourth of July Flowers Represent Patriotism
Of course, you need patriotic flowers to commemorate the most patriotic day of the year. Which means you need to incorporate red, white, and blue flowers into the bouquet.Fortunately, many flowers in these three colors bloom in July, giving you a great selection of in-season flowers to choose from.
History of Our Flags Colors
Especially since when The Stars and Stripes were adopted in 1777, the colors red, white, and blue did not have any meaning. The colors in the great seal, however, did have specific meanings.White signifies purity and innocence. Red symbolizes hardiness and valor, and blue signifies vigilance, perseverance, and justice.
Best Red Flowers to Use
There are quite a few red flowers you can choose from. Many people choose carnations, red gerbera daisies, or red roses as their favorite red 4th of July flowers.However, tulips also work well for fresh cut floral arrangements. Let's take a moment to find out what each of these popular choices symbolizes:
Carnations
Carnations have different meanings for different colors. However, as a whole, they symbolize beauty and pride, making them a perfect choice in your bouquet.Gerberas
Gerbera's are a part of the daisy family. They convey cheerfulness and they also come in 10 different colors, if you want to mix up your arrangement.Roses
Roses last for a long time, are extremely versatile and smell wonderful. They're perfect for any occasion.There are many varieties and colors to choose from, but all, especially the red rose, symbolize passionate love.
Tulips
While most people associate tulips with spring and Easter, they're available in a wide variety of textures, colors, and volume, making them perfect for nearly any occasion. Tulips represent perfect, true love.Best White Flowers to Use
Gladiolus, mums, or white lilies are great choices to use as part of a 4th of July flowers bouquet. Hydrangeas are also beautiful flowers to use as well. Let's take a look at the symbolism of these flowers:Gladiolus
Gladiolus is a stunning, long-stemmed flower that blooms from top to bottom. Gladiolus represents sincerity, the strength of character, faithfulness, honor, and generosity. They also come in red.Mums
Chrysanthemum comes in a variety of colors such as white, purple, and red. They have a similar look to daisies.They symbolize optimism and joy. You can even place a single petal at the bottom of your wine glass to encourage long and healthy life.
Lilies
Lilies are considered a royal flower. They symbolize refined beauty and purity. A white lily symbolizes modesty.Lilies bloom year-round and come in several stunning colors. They also smell sweet.
Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas are large, full-bloom flowers. They represent perseverance and heartfelt emotions.Hydrangeas naturally come in white, blue, pink, and green. However, thanks to intravenous tinting, they're now available in nearly any color you'd like.
Best Blue Colors to Use
This may come as a surprise, but no flower is truly blue. True blue pigment simply doesn't exist in any kind of plant.What you're really seeing in a blue flower is other pigments and minerals combined with light to create what you see as blue. Most are actually purple or red.
However, that doesn't mean you don't have choices. Blue delphinium, hyacinths, cornflowers, and Irises are good choices to give you that blue hue to complete your patriotic flowers look.
Blue Delphinium
Delphinium symbolizes vivacity and lightheartedness. They're long and lean and they're also known as larkspur.Hyacinth
Hyacinth flowers represent sport and playfulness. They come in a variety of colors and they're very fragrant.While they don't have a long stem, you can use a pick and floral wire for a bouquet. You can also use them in a Fourth of July flowers wreath.
Cornflowers
Cornflowers became popular in Europe when Queen Louise of Prussia told her children to wear crowns of cornflowers on their heads and hide in a cornflower field from Napoleon and his troops.Cornflowers today represent pride, wealth, and an abundance of good fortune.
Iris
Irises are most known as a springtime flower but they are available year-round. They represent wisdom and trust. They also come in colors such as white, yellow, and purple.How to Make the Perfect Fourth of July Flowers Bouquet
Once you've selected the flowers you want to use, it's time to make a bouquet. Find the vase you want to put them in. It's best to find one that's eight inches high and narrow.Use sharp scissors or even better, pruners to cut your flowers. Cut your flowers an inch above where your florist cut them originally. Cut them all the same length. Then let them stand in lukewarm water for a few hours.
Arranging Your Flowers
Cluster them in the vase partially filled with water. Then pull some of the center flowers up to give height and roundness.Rotate the vase to make sure you can see your flowers from different angles.
