Denira
Legacy Name: Denira

Ever since I was a little girl I have loved plants and flowers. I remember tending to my grandmother's plants and various flowers, along with her. She would tell me the name of each one, smiling at me. She had a beautiful garden, so many plants and flowers.

She is the reason why I decided to go to school for botany with a minor in history. I want to learn about the plants me and my grandma love, and the meaning behind their names, and how they were used.

I'm lucky enough to go to a school that has its own beautiful gardens and greenhouse. I spend most of my time there, helping the groundskeeper tend to my plants and flowers. She is kind enough to teach me what she knows as well, along with my courses.

The rest of my time is spent in the large library reading and researching plants and flowers, and their uses. It's amazing. For medical uses, cosmetics, and even dye, and so much more! Flowers can have fairytales and rhymes tried to them, or fun little games. Buttercups are a great example, the little yellow flowers bright like the sun. How the game goes you're supposed to put the flower under your chin, and if you have a yellow reflection on your skin it means you like butter! How silly, but! It teaches young children that the petals of the flower reflect light! Plants are truly wonderful!

They bring so much joy to the world, they truly are a gift. Even given as present, such as a Jade plant can have such a deep meaning. Bouquet of flowers each of different meanings to the one gifted, such as love or luck. Roses are one great example of this! Red roses symbolize love and romance. Pink roses symbolize gratitude, grace, admiration, and joy. Orange roses symbolize enthusiasm and passion. Yellow roses symbolize friendship. White roses symbolize innocence and purity.

Every flower, herb and plant has a meaning not just roses. You might be thinking, what even herbs? Yes! Rosemary for example symbolizes Remembrance.

Then there are the plants and flowers that have a medical use, such as Chamomile, most known for its uses for anxiety and relaxation, but it has also been used for wound healing and to reduce inflammation or swelling! How amazing is that!

Flowers as most know are used for perfume but they are also used in various cosmetics! The Soapwort flower is usually used to make moisturizers, rejuvenating masks, and body oils! It's actually great for fighting acne! Then one more example is the Honeysuckle flower used for skin oils, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory creams! Talk about amazing!

Last thing I'll mention I promise, then I'll let you go! Did you know Until the mid-19th century, natural plant dyes were the only source of dye available! For creating dyes from plants, the most popular are Indigo and madder, while dandelion, marigolds, sunflowers, hollyhock petals, roses, camellias, lavender, coneflower, and hibiscus are also popular choices!

Sorry for keeping you! I just love to talk about plants and flowers! I could go on and on! I hope you learned something fun and interesting from me! Come chat again with me any time! Maybe I'll make us a cup of tea next time, I grow my own peppermint here in the garden actually! Have a lovely day, and don't forget to stop and smell the roses!