Daisy

The daisy must be one of the most well known flowers on earth. The wild daisy was used in daisy chains throughout centuries.

Most women, whether city bred or country dwellers will have at some point in their lives plucked the petals from a daisy while chanting 'he loves me, he loves me not.'

The daisy is always linked to children, symbolising their innocence because children love to make daisy chains.

History:

Dasies have been depicted in stone carvings as early as 3000 BC.

The daisy family arrived some 50 to 60 million years ago just after the downfall of the dinosaurs.

The daisy family consists of 1500 genera and 25,000 plus species more than any other plant family only Earth.

The daisy was very popular in the medievil times,Knights would ware daisies as a symbol of their fedelity and many gardens were referred to as "flowery Meads" and were different to our idea of lawn today.

Many Victorian gardening periodicals praise the daisy as a perennial bedding plant to be used at the front of herbaceous borders, where the best double pink varieties were used in large quantites, while the wild daisy was considered a pest to be removed.

The Victorians loved the daisy, it was once considered to be Queen Victoria's favourite flower. In the Victorial Language of flowers it symbolised innocece and the sharing sentiments.

In the 16th century France, there existed an 'Order of the Daisy'. In Britain too, the daisy was associated with importance belonging and patriotism. Empire Day on the 24th of May was celebrated by many folk and it was said that school girls wore daisies on that day which with their compact and sigle flower symbolised a united empire.

For a flower so linked with history and symbolism, the daisy has a simplicity about it.

Care and conditioning:

Ensure when you purchase Daisies as a cut flower that the foliage is looking crisp and not already soft and dissolving. Remove any foliage that may sit below the water level and change the water each day to minimise any bacteria forming in the water from decomposing foliage.

Health & wellbeing:

During the Middle Ages, the daisy was often used to treat battle wounds. It was said that the plant could stop bleeding and relieve bruising and shock. Limbs and wounds were dressed with bandages containing crushed daisies to give relief and effect a cure.

The daisy was also used to make wine. The flower was used as a charm to relieve gout, ulcers, remove warts and turn grey hair back to black.

Ancient healing also indicated that daisy juice could cure migranes. Toda it is the leaves and the flowers of hte common daisy, Bellis perennis, that are used in healing. It is an astringent and can relax spasms. The plant can be used to cure coughs and catarrh internally and externally is used on varicose veins, wounds and watery eyes.

It is a homoepathic remedy for bruises. On a very beneficial level, a daisy will provide a very beautiful bath if the flowers are allowed to steep in water for 30 minutes, they can then be added to a warm bath for a very healing and relaxing soak.

Additional information:

The daisy reminds us of innocent pleasures, and taking out time to communicate with nature and to share time with children, encouraging them a love of flowers.