"Earth laughs in flowers", said Reiph Waldo Emerson. Sigmund Freud said, "Flowers are restful to look at. They have neither emotions nor conflicts".
The flower is the most important part of a plant as it produces seed to reproduce itself for perpetuation of species, etc. It is the most exquisite creation of the Mother Nature. Flowers are winsome, most exciting, relaxing and have the power to change the bad moods of a distraught person to his sweet-self. The pleasant smell of a flower is enthralling. The flowers herald the advent of the spring. They are valued for their aesthetic qualities - colour, texture, fragrance and form etc. They give the tidings of happiness and sorrows. On getting dried, they are used as a constituent of eastern medicine for cures. The opening buds of the "kachal" tree are the delight of many an epicurean in the subcontinent. Flowers love seasons. The summer flowers cannot grow in winter season and vice versa.
The flower of narcissus (gul-e-nargis) was used by our national Poet-cum-Philosopher Dr. Muhammad Iqbal in his famous couplet - "hazzaron sal nargis apni benoori pay roti hai" to say that the "nargis plant weeps for thousands of years for its pathetic condition." William Wordsworth - a famous English poet penned a poem on daffodils. The word flower is used in many English idioms. Such as "a bed of roses" and "The flowers of one's youth" etc.
Nectar collected by the honey-bees from various flowers is made into honey that is eaten delightfully all over the world. Even the grizzly bears in the jungles look for the honey combs to eat their favorite food - honey. Modern medical practitioners recommend honey to be taken by their recuperating patients other then the diabetics.
Flowers like lotus grow in ponds and lakes the rest are terrestrial that grow in flower beds ridges and also in earth - filled pots for their easily portability from one place to another to facilitate their rearrangement for better looks. Cut-flowers and bouquets are given by friends and relatives on festive occasions and are thereafter kept in glass jars, metallic and ceramic vases to last longer for their odor.
Bouquets of flowers are laid at the tombs of the VVIP's by the visiting dignitaries from a country to another country to strengthen their ties and good relationship. Bouquets are presented to the retiring persons at their farewells. Wreathes of flowers are laid at the 'Mazars' of the national heroes, founders of a state, saints and Sufis to commemorate them on their death anniversaries. Patients on getting well are garlanded by their near dear ones on their home-coming to show their joy. Sunflowers with big heads are not considered as a garden plant. It is primarily planted as a field crop for its seed that yields oil, which is widely consumed as cooking oil in the East. The salted and roasted seeds of the sunflower are widely eaten by the people especially in winter season.
Sweet-smelling "motia / mogra" flowers woven into a small ring are fastened as a gujra in hair by women to look attractive in functions. Rose is reckoned as the "king of the flowers" for its majestic beauty and widely applauded adoration. The brides and the bridegrooms are garlanded on their wedding and showered rose petals on their "rukhsati". Rose petals are also showered by the people on visiting a grave of their 'kith and kin' out of reverence, love and affection for the deceased.
Each flower enjoys the status of being given as a country's national flower. The United States of America, the United Kingdom, the Maldives, Cyprus, Bulgaria and Czech Republic have rose as their national flower. Lily is adopted by Bangladesh as its national flower. The national flower of Japan is chrysanthemum and Maple leaf is the national flower of Canada. China has plum blossom as its national flower. Daisy is the official flower of Denmark. Egypt and India have chosen lotus as their national flower. Syria and Pakistan have jasmine (chameli flower) as their national flower. Turkey and Holland have chosen Tulip as their national flower. Many of the countries have no national flower.
The flowers not only appeal to the eye, but warm the cockles of one's heart. They make a tangible impact on our life. Flowers tend to give a message of love joy and affection. Each flower has three to four meanings. Aster symbolizes patience, elegance and daintiness. Daffodil means regard, chivalry and unrequited love. Pansy signifies remembrance. Carnation symbolizes pride and beauty. The white pansy symbolizes innocence and pure love. Chrysanthemum is for fidelity, joy and long life. Daisy symbolizes innocence and purity. Rose signifies ones love, but a black rose gives the message of death. Cut-flowers and other related horticultural material is exported and imported briskly by one country to another in the west. Space and lack of water are the limiting factors in big cities that retard the passion for flowers and their utility in majority of the cities in Pakistan. For this condition it is considered as the hobby of only the well-to-do person who can afford flowering plants in their home-garden. Flowers shows are arranged by the Pakistan Horticulture Society, Karachi in the month of February to encourage gardening love in Karachiites. Hundreds of professional and amateur flower-lovers keep their entries in the flower show. The best entry is also awarded a trophy for their efforts.
District authorities make it a business to patronize private and official flower-growers in their jurisdictions. This can go a long way to popularize the flower-loving and growing activity. The local Universities in the big cities are also required to introduce a 3-6 months Diploma course in floriculture to turn out qualified and trained persons for the proper guidance, as the illiterate or un experienced persons presently engaged are not adequate enough.
The synthetic plastic plants with leaves, flowers and fruits are purchased by the housewives, who have no room or resources to keep even a flower-pot in their apartments. The synthetic flowers are made so artistically that are deceptive even to a plant-lover. But the plastic flowers and plants are just for show. They cannot grow; has no flower-odor or a fruit after their best craftsmanship. Artificial flowers are no match to the real flowers and their attributes that they possess.