Does it seem possible that we are just days away from a brand new year? The year seems to have gone by very quickly!
I wondered if there were any plants that represented the new year, and guess what? I did some homework and found that there are indeed plants that represent “good luck” in the new year! Whether you are looking for new plants for your own collection or would like to give a new year’s gift to someone else, here are a few that were on the list. Choose a wish, choose a plant!
Bamboo is one lucky plant; legend has it that the plant symbolizes things like health, longevity, good fortune, and wealth. If you would like to give someone bamboo, be aware that three stems of bamboo symbolize, health, longevity and wealth; five stems bring wealth; six stems bring luck, and seven stems are for health.
The beautiful jade plant is another lucky plant: the jade plant’s rounded leaves are lucky, and the plant as a whole symbolizes renewal, longevity and wealth. I read that in Asia, the jade plant is a traditional gift to owners of a new business, and the plant is placed near the entrance of the business to bring success.
If you prefer cut flowers, the beautiful rose represents love, luck and healing. But as you probably know, different colors send different messages. Red is the color of true, passionate love. Pink is the color for all you romantics in the crowd. Peach or coral is the color for friendship and peace.
Sending a stem of the exotic orchid? This flower sends the message of deep friendship, and is also a flower that will bring soothing feelings to a troubled soul. The fragrant lavender is the flower that will bring calm into someone’s life, and for single gals, it is said to also bring men into your life! The aromatic honeysuckle will attract money to your home and boost your intuition.
And if you want to find your New Year plant in the produce aisle of your grocery store, remember that sage is the herb that brings wisdom and helps make dreams come true; and basil is the herb that brings something for everyone: love, luck, financial success and wealth.
Rosemary’s message is that it helps to increase your memory; rosemary is the herb for remembrance.
Rosemary seems to me to be a good plant to have on display as we close one year and begin the next. I know that many of you have lost special people this past year; so did we. 2015 was a year of goodbyes, and as we prepared for the holiday season, I wished there was a way to have a floral reminder of all these dear people.
I think rosemary will be my choice to honor their memory. I will buy the fresh herb, place it in a vase, then as the old year turns into the new year, it can dry slowly and gently into a fragrant memory.
On behalf of Keith and I, we wish you a new year of health and peace. We hope your joys will be many and your sorrows few, and that you will always be surrounded by the love and laughter of family and friends. And may your spirit be once again rejuvenated by the beauty of your garden! We’ll be gardening again before you know it!
Happy New Year from the Yorkton and District Horticultural Society!
