April was a month of religious festivals. It started with Easter Sunday, and I know our customers enjoyed the long weekend break. Our Westfield branch was busy with shoppers and people buying flowers ready for their visits to friends and family. The Jewish festival of Passover also began on Friday 30th March, running all the way until Sunday 7th April.
Both celebrations signify new beginnings, and I love that. I mentioned in my previous blog post that I adore this time of year: when April arrives and moves towards May it means rebirth, new life, lambs, spring bulbs, blossom, flowers … I could go on. Then by the end of the month, there’s an excitement building in the air as summer is on its way. Everyone starts looking after their gardens, spring cleaning and filling their homes and windows with pretty, fresh flowers.
April weddings are usually a lot of fun. Our brides go for bright, colourful themes, with kaleidoscopes of yellows, pinks and cornflower blues. Some choose wild flowers for a relaxed and rustic look, others opt for elegant tulips, while the bravest go for cheerful gerberas. Whichever they choose, our spring weddings are awash with stunning pops of colour and have the most wonderful, happy atmosphere. We’ve even seen lots of April weddings making great use of edible flowers on desserts and in cocktails, and we’ve helped to decorate lots of breathtakingly beautiful cakes. It’s no wonder we all love our jobs so much here at S&G!
The birth flowers for April are daisies and sweetpeas. I love both – sweetpeas are gorgeous, delicate and fragrant, and symbolise pleasure. However, daisies, for me, epitomise this time of year. They’re a great symbol of innocence, purity and fun – which is where the phrase ‘fresh as a daisy’ comes from. Daises supposedly also symbolise fertility and motherhood, which is why gerbera daisies are a popular choice for new mums. Best of all for me, though, is that they make every green field in the country look prettier, and we have to love them for that.
We’re just moving into the busiest time of the year for a florist – wedding season is in full swing as of now. The wedding of the year – Harry and Meghan’s – is nearly here, and we are so excited about it. My next blog will be posted here right after the big day, so check back for a read once it’s over!