What is it that brings us back to this practice of giving others (and ourselves) fresh blooms? How is it that something so simple can carry such emotional weight? Do flowers really affect our emotional well-being? Do flowers really matter?

Flowers are mostly ornamental, they don’t last forever, and they often cost a pretty penny. Why, then, throughout history, has humankind invested such a significant amount of resources to grow and/or purchase something that serves little purpose in helping us survive? 12,000 years ago, ancient Egyptians carved images of flowers in stone, while the Romans threw entire festivals in their honor. As far back as 2000 years ago, artists in China painstakingly created them out of silk. Why do flowers maintain such a powerful hold over us?

You might think that as florists, we assume that we carry an implicit bias when it comes to appreciating the value and role that flowers play in the world. Everyone has their own reasons, but we all share a common obsession with these delicate, beautiful stems– even after ten years working in this industry a tiny flower can still make our heart race. But time and time again, when we’re lucky enough to witness someone engaging with the work we do here (whether it’s through receiving one of our arrangements, inviting us to provide wedding or event florals, stumbling across the daily bucket of free flowers we place outside our studio, or attending a workshop,) the intensity of our community’s reaction to flowers is moving. Florist or not, no matter! Having an emotional reaction to flowers is truly a universal human experience.

Knowing the emotional significance of flowers energizes us to continue to push ourselves to create arrangements and experiences that connect our community through a shared appreciation of nature, beauty, and sentiment. We wanted to do a bit of a deeper dive into the history behind this practice, and share some of the ways that flowers affect our emotional well-being. This is more than just a hunch, too– we were delighted to find that there is a wealth of scientific research that mirrored what we’ve experienced first-hand. Flowers really can make us happier. Let us list some of the ways:

Just as they can bring us into the present moment, they can also transport us back into our past. Colour, shape, and smell all play a significant role in connecting us with our autobiographical and long-term memory, and in our experience, most people have a flower that reminds them of someone special in their life. Beyond our immediate community, flowers have played important roles cross-culturally and in many societies around the world, with many identifying them as symbols of strength, resilience and love.

Believe it or not, one Harvard study found that the simple act of placing a flower arrangement in the kitchen can be a viable alternative to starting your day with a cup of coffee. Participants in the study reported increased energy and mood after interacting with blooms first thing in the morning!

Some of our brighter, more carpe-diem colour palette arrangements available right now are Skittles or Season's Best. For a softer start to your day something like our Sugarplum or Periwinkle would be perfect!

We deepen our relationships when we celebrate and support each other, and flowers have done a lot of emotional heavy-lifting throughout history as they commemorate life’s most emotionally-charged moments. Whether it’s to celebrate your culture, yourself, a loved one or just to boost your mood, we’ll always be here to treat your arrangement with the respect and emotional weight it deserves.

The “power” in flower power demands a connection to community, so we thank you for being a part of ours. Without you, we wouldn't be able to do the work that we so love to do.