Flowers are a bright and beautiful way to celebrate your child’s important milestones.
Every flower has an attached historical sentiment that can add a special touch to all those milestones you’ll treasure, from your baby shower to your baby’s birth, to your child’s Christening and first day at school, through to their sweet sixteen and graduation party. Long gone are the days when parents chose soft, light, and delicate flowers in the traditional “blue for boys” and “pink for girls”.
We chat with Sharon Smith, founder of Blooming Magic, on ways you can use the beauty of flowers to celebrate your child’s growing years.
For your baby shower
While there are no rules for what colour tones to choose for your baby shower, muted tones are always in fashion, as they don’t subscribe to either a blue or a pink camp in terms of theme. Sharon recommends the following colour choices:
- White and Green: For a fresh and zingy touch
- Soft Yellow and White: This combination is always a winner
- The Organic Palette: This involves blending preserved and dry ranges of leaves and flowers with translucent pods where you can see the seeds inside
“If it’s a gender reveal party, why not combine petals and balloons? Try filling up a balloon with petals relative to the gender, incorporate it inside a cake, and when you cut the cake, the balloon bursts, and the petals fly everywhere,” says Sharon. “Imagination is everything! There are no limits in the variety of balloons these days to incorporate into any theme whatsoever! A balloon wall, using all different sizes of balloons, is fun. You could make animal shaped balloons in a garden and flower backdrop and continue this theme through to the sitting area and table with a floral runner (or just petals) on the table, adding the occasional animal shaped balloon.” Edible flowers can also be added to the snacks. “You can make iced cupcakes and place petals or the whole flower on top of the cupcake in various designs. Edible flowers include nasturtiums, pansies, chamomile, lavender, honeysuckle, strawberry blossoms, mini dianthus, stocks, and roses,” adds Sharon.
For a baby christening
Flowers can be incorporated into your baby’s christening invitations. “A great idea for invitations is to clear adequate space on the floor where you can create your own flat-lay invitation photo. Using a card with your wording, add sentimental pieces around the card (baby booties, lock of baby’s hair, baby’s favourite teddy, etc.) and then sprinkle the appropriate flowers throughout the flat-lay at the end to pretty it up! You might want a professional photographer to assist with capturing the essence of this picture, which you can then send out as your invite, by email,” says Sharon. Fresh flowers are the perfect decoration for a baby christening. Guests are drawn to fresh flowers because of their aesthetic appeal, the way they feel when touched, and, of course, the sweet scent they bring to a room.
For your child’s birthday
Just as there are birthstones that align with birthdays, there are birth flowers. Read on to find out what your child’s birth flower is…
January: Carnation & Snowdrop
February: Violet & Primrose
March: Daffodil & Jonquil
April: Daisy & Sweet Pea
May: Lily Of The Valley & Hawthorn
June: Rose & Honeysuckle
July: Delphinium & Waterlily
August: Gladiolus & Poppy
September: Aster & Morning Glory
October: Marigold & Cosmos
November: Chrysanthemum
December: Holly & Narcissus
Sharon’s top tips
- When choosing flowers for your child’s birthday, it’s important to keep choices age-appropriate. For younger, more energised, and curious/interactive kids, choose plastic containers with floral foam over the glass. If you prefer glass, select vases that are bottom-heavy and hold their ground (square, large round cylindrical vases) to prevent them from falling or being pulled over.
- Avoid any plant or flower where if you cut into the stem or pull a leaf off, a milk-type sap is secreted (such as the poinsettia flower/plant).
- Stay away from flowers that are dangerous to children if ingested. These include chrysanthemums, daffodils, hydrangeas, and iris.
- As with any bunch or bouquet, it is important to change the water frequently (every two to three days). Every time you change the water, give the stems a trim at a diagonal too.
3 Fun arts and crafts with flowers
Three fun arts and crafts you can make with your child involving fresh-cut flowers:
- Floral Ice Cubes: You’ll need large silicone ice trays, a freezer, different types of edible flowers, a few mint leaves and some lemon balm (optional) Click here to watch a tutorial on how to make it.
- Pressed Flower Cards Or Bookmarks: You’ll need a big heavy book to press the flowers in the centre for a couple of hours, organic cardboard, glue, and imagination. Click here to watch a tutorial on how to make it.
- Floral Headbands: You’ll need a plastic headband or piece of wire, strong glue, array of different flowers. Click here to watch a tutorial on how to make it.
