Tuesday March 20th marks the official start of spring, luckily the weather is starting to match
It’s referred to as the vernal equinox, and it is in fact the only day of the year that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west the world over. Earth’s tilt will be zero in relation to our sun allowing it to cross straight over the equator – the reason why both of the Earth’s hemispheres receive an equal amount of sunlight on this day. Spring also brings a new crop of stems – from freesias to sweet peas. As Spring begins just before Mother's Day, these stems are all perfect for Mothering Sunday bouquets. This is our guide to the season’s finest.
Sweet pea
Both an affectionate name for a loved one and a stem that embodies the spirit of spring –the sweet pea is served in a variety of vibrant colours, except for yellow. We can thank horticulturist Henry Eckford for the sweet pea. Known widely as the “Prince of Specialists”, he dedicated his career to breeding sweet peas – now one of springs most sought after stems.
Known widely as the “Prince of Specialists”, he dedicated his career to breeding sweet peas...
![Floom Sweet Pea](https://floom.imgix.net/products/floom-sweet-pea.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=900&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=1440&s=2f424972ac2cf70dd7dda320a3a1e36d 1440w, https://floom.imgix.net/products/floom-sweet-pea.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=625&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=1000&s=e9b251881b7a2b9c4bf7e3677b505b0c 1000w, https://floom.imgix.net/products/floom-sweet-pea.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=375&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=600&s=8865383735864c7259c7ed9ce9e8a03a 600w, https://floom.imgix.net/products/floom-sweet-pea.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=250&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=400&s=f6d804a61da405b674b168146968472a 400w)
Tulips
The timeless tulip hails from impressive pedigree, storied for its strong Dutch heritage that’s eared it legions of fans worldwide. Bursting with saturated colour, a hand-tied bouquet of chilli-red tulips is fitting for a loved one, while yellow, pink and lilac iterations of the stems propose a vibrant gift for a friend.
![Floom Tulip](https://floom.imgix.net/products/floom-tulip.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=900&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=1440&s=1e2dfd7e2e2afeafff5b64b561be794d 1440w, https://floom.imgix.net/products/floom-tulip.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=625&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=1000&s=30369afc92ab7f651dc9b44232709a41 1000w, https://floom.imgix.net/products/floom-tulip.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=375&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=600&s=a97a970bff00ab91114c051df3f9c226 600w, https://floom.imgix.net/products/floom-tulip.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=250&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=400&s=f41c8ae1309d8c2d00023257425a69f0 400w)
Butterfly Ranunculus
Injecting orate beauty into many a new season bouquet is the butterfly ranunculus, the stem that’s earned renown for its complex petals and multiple flowers that sprout from a single stem. And the butterfly part? Each petal is coated with a barely-there layer of wax that gives the illusion of sparkling wings, similar to those of a butterfly. An all round striking stem.
...gives the illusion of sparkling wings, similar to those of a butterfly.
![Floom Butterfly Ranunculus](https://floom.imgix.net/products/floom-butterfly-ranunculus.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=900&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=1440&s=bdbb94067b5c38955737e6c53b732c2b 1440w, https://floom.imgix.net/products/floom-butterfly-ranunculus.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=625&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=1000&s=d95b758f0939bc1ef344f67c10e96001 1000w, https://floom.imgix.net/products/floom-butterfly-ranunculus.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=375&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=600&s=640407742b7652a61fe09cd23e9bce04 600w, https://floom.imgix.net/products/floom-butterfly-ranunculus.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=250&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=400&s=d160f7a58628af59f2f1a34f0b769f9f 400w)
Daffodil
The birth flower of March, the cheerful daffodil – genus name Narcissus, yet nobody knows why. It’s also the National Flower of Wales, worn nationwide on March 1st each year to celebrate Saint David’s day. You’re always sure to spot the daffodil’s distinctive trumpet-shaped cup framing the faces of merry rugby spectators at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on match days.
![Floom Daffodil](https://floom.imgix.net/products/floom-daffodil.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=900&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=1440&s=a2ecedf78e697c4b31a5ff684d8c8625 1440w, https://floom.imgix.net/products/floom-daffodil.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=625&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=1000&s=b4ca9c4dfc05488315423264481081c1 1000w, https://floom.imgix.net/products/floom-daffodil.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=375&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=600&s=f8ae0e4d22b5e850ee0ec8718fa6903e 600w, https://floom.imgix.net/products/floom-daffodil.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=250&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=400&s=b49f49da96b091c153371691b7164927 400w)
Freesia
Born in the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa, the fragrant freesia is a sure sign that spring has arrived. Aside from their intense scent, the freesia’s funnel-shaped flowers are noted for their vibrant hue. While freesias of the white variety symbolise innocence (making them a popular choice for a wedding) pink is symbolic of motherly love, and yellow is synonymous with joy and new beginnings – a thoughtful gift for a friend who is embarking on a new career path, or moving into a new home.
![Floom Freesia](https://floom.imgix.net/products/floom-freesia.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=900&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=1440&s=92b895ebcc99f211360832f6a563d23b 1440w, https://floom.imgix.net/products/floom-freesia.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=625&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=1000&s=079a2b7b7c185049769702e0820c7bfd 1000w, https://floom.imgix.net/products/floom-freesia.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=375&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=600&s=b0998a8ab7cf0981343b2ea4207dcb46 600w, https://floom.imgix.net/products/floom-freesia.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=250&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=400&s=726c51cc6924c868d8541c5447bc773f 400w)