How to
Create a Valentine's Day Gift
Stuck for ideas to impress your Valentine? The Victorians would have had no problems in deciding what to present to their loved ones for Valentine’s Day. They used mixtures of carefully- chosen flowers and herbs, known as ‘tussie- mussies’, to convey special messages. These messages could be de-coded using one of the many floral dictionaries that were available at the time.
Why not follow this lovely Victorian tradition by putting together a tussie-mussie for your Valentine or, better still, planting a tussie mussie garden that can be enjoyed for much of the year. Here are the meanings of some of the most suitable flowers and herbs that can be grown from Yates seeds:
- Alyssum – worth beyond beauty. Alyssum can be sown at almost any time of year. Its petite, honey-scented blooms soften some of the strongly-coloured garden flowers.
- Calendula – sacred affections, joy and remembrance. Sow any time in the next couple of months.
- Basil – good wishes, love and serious intentions. Basil is a summer-growing herb that’s also said to deter insect pests in the garden.
- Everlastings – love forever. The longevity of paper daises is said to be an indication of long-lasting love. Look for Yates Waterwise Paper Daisies or Helichrysum Bright Bikinis.
- Forget-me-not – remembrance. Because of their self-seeding characteristics these flowers will re-appear in the garden each year.
- Nasturtium – patience. Nasturtium flowers (pictured) can also be used to add colour to salad greens.
- Pansy – I’m thinking of you. The old- fashioned pansy name of ‘heartsease’ carries connotations of forgiveness and gentleness.
- Parsley – signifies festivity or joy, which should be important factors in every loving relationship.
Tussie mussies are very easy to make. Pick your flowers and herbs and keep them in water until you’re ready. Cut a cross-shaped slit in the centre of a paper doily. Arrange the flowers together, starting with an outer layer of leaves and finishing with a dramatic central flower such as a rose bud. Trim the stems to the same length and wrap the base with some foil or plastic.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
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