Exotic Flowers in Boston

Spring is finally here and so isn’t the frenzy for pansies!  Pansies are the number one flower sold from garden centers and florists this time of year, particularly here in Boston where the weather can still be temperamental.  It’s not uncommon for New England to have an intermittent rough patch of chillier weather during the months of March and April (and perhaps even a touch of S-N-O-W) so this variety is the perfect fit to withstand these conditions.  Even though the pansy looks pretty delicate, the bloom is considered a “toughie” in the flower world due to the fact that they can withstand temperatures anywhere above twenty-six degrees Fahrenheit.  That means unless the ground freezes, your pansies have a fair shot at surviving because of their natural hardiness found in their stem and root system. Very few other flowers can perform as well making this breed a highly attractive and highly demanded plant.

Another reason to invest in this species as your first springtime landscaping addition is their beautiful assortment of availability in color.  This blossom is readily sold in a spectrum of rainbow shades including straight and variegated tones.  Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple and pink-it’s all at your fingertips if you’re looking to match a certain shade to your home or simply desiring to create a potpourri assortment.  If you would like to browse some of the fancy flavors, here are a few to get you started!

Delta Pansies

Deltas are the most typical kind of pansy you’ll find in the northeast because they easily rebound off of difficult weather and also have the ability to overwinter in some regions.  These varieties also have a large face with over thirty colors and mixtures, which continue to grow year after year.  If you’re the impatient type, you’ll love Delta’s since they are the earliest bloomers out of any other subunit.  

The Meaning of Pansies

Finish the Verse

By Sadaf Syed

Roses are red,

violets are blue,

But I prefer a purple pansy

When I reminisce over you.

Pansies are a common flower we recognize as a sign of spring and often are used as our first featured blooms to be placed in pots and flowerbeds.  Pansies have also become one of the hottest autumn plants for their durability and vibrant colors. Their ability to withstand the chill of April and October weather keeps them a hot commodity for early and late gardeners but little do many people know of their symbolic importance as well.  Pansies are an interesting flower when speaking of their meaning because the options are vast including ideas of friendship, loyalty, love, passion and remembrance.  Due to this wide selection of interests, pansies are sought after for funerals, weddings and even retirement parties.  Here are the specific reasons why they remain so special even in today’s world of fashionable flowers…

Pansies are a part of the violet family and hold a high resemblance to the shape of her parent’s appearance, specifically the head shape and foliage.  A recognizable difference is its “Super Sized” girth, usually tripling the girth of a typical violet. Shakespeare was a huge fan of the flower and featured the variety often in his work. Ophelia and A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream were two of his most famous written works that showcased the blooms with significant importance signifying remembrance or sorrow for a loved one.  

On the opposite side of the spectrum, pansies can also refer to pleasant and happy notions such as true friendship, companionship, spirituality and modesty.  Depending on the color of the pansy, a warm hue of lavender or yellow usually can be interpreted with a pleasant meaning.  If the petal’s shade is darker, the implication could turn out to be more negative.  If you are speaking about a white pansy, typically the reference is drawn to death suggesting farewell and goodbye.  The wide usage of symbolism pertaining to the pansy has made this flower a popular subject for artists to paint, one of which is the famous Georgia O’Keefe who was known to have felt a strong connection to the bloom.