Green Plants, Healing, and Hospital Recovery Times

Nature’s relaxing effect on the mind has been well-documented, as well as its positive impact on overall feelings of wellbeing. However, the power of plants extends farther than many people realize. Studies show that having green plants in hospital rooms even speeds up recovery time for surgical patients and reduces the need for pharmaceutical painkillers. Outdoor healing gardens at hospitals have also made a comeback in recent years, as more and more research concludes that their benefits extend beyond simple beauty to physical and mental benefits.

Science behind the healing power of plants

Hospital environments can be stressful and unnatural to our body’s natural rhythms. Uninterrupted sleep, lack of privacy, regimented meals, and of course, feeling under the weather take their toll by causing not only physical stress, but anxiety and fear. Green plants have a naturally calming effect. In 2008, researchers at Kansas State University found that surgical patients who had plants in their recovery rooms reported greater satisfaction with their rooms, less painkiller usage, and lower blood pressure and heart rates. The plants had such a positive impact on patient perception that they reported greater happiness with the plants than any other feature in their room, even the television!

Cut flowers versus potted plants

Although cut flowers also enhance the hospital room experience, green and potted plants have the added benefit of providing air purification as well as horticultural therapy, which allows post-surgical patients to help care for plants themselves as they recover. Engagement and responsibility through live plant care takes the patient’s mind off pain or anxiety as well as motivates them to move around their rooms, not due to coercion or pressure, but due to interest and enjoyment.

Benefits of healing gardens

The power of greenery can go far beyond individual patient rooms. Studies show that even patients who have a view of greenery out their windows heal faster. Healing gardens at hospitals help adult and child patients alike find respite from the emotional fatigue, stress, and unnatural stimuli of the hospital environment. Hospital staff also report that gardens give them a restorative break and sense of wellbeing, allowing them to “recharge and refresh” before the see more patients.

The health effects of green plants are not limited to surgical patients, but can also help boost memory and learning, reduce stress, and enhance positive mood and thinking. For more information, see here.

In addition to cut flowers and bouquets, Carousel Flowers in Rochester, Minnesota, offers beautiful and lush green plant arrangements, and also leases large potted plants. Please visit Carousel Flowers’ website for more information, or give us a call at (507) 288-7800!

Rose Colors and Their Meanings

"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet," William Shakespeare famously penned in Romeo and Juliet. But a rose of any color contains a deeper message than just a beautiful flower with a prized scent. Rose bouquets can express their sender’s feelings and intentions simply by their color. Next time you send a bouquet to someone you love, this guide can help you add another dimension of beauty and symbolism to your gift.   

Thinking beyond red

While red roses are widely known as a symbol of romantic love and Valentine’s Day, don’t assume all women prefer a bouquet solely made up of red roses. In fact, studies as well as florists typically claim that over half of women prefer pastel or softer-colored roses to the classic deep red. If you truly want to impress your recipient with a unique arrangement, you can go with a mixed bouquet of any of the colors below--or, make a bold statement by just choosing a bouquet of a single color.

• Pink: Pink roses have a classical, sweet look and are associated with grace, elegance, gratitude, and happiness.
• Lavender: Lavender roses are said to convey “enchantment.” Lavender makes a perfect choice to express falling in love with someone at first sight, and a bold, unique statement of devotion.   
• White: White roses were traditionally the bridal rose, and were associated with true love before the red rose became the more popular symbol of romantic love. Today, white roses are still used to convey feelings of innocence, purity, and reverence.
• Yellow: Most people know the yellow rose as a symbol of friendship and platonic love. The color yellow has long been associated with happiness and joy, which also makes yellow roses a popular choice to send someone in need of cheering up or getting well.
• Orange: The vibrant color orange symbolizes energy. In roses, this energy often expresses both desire and enthusiasm for the relationship or recipient.
• Peach: Peach roses have gained in popularity due to their beauty, charm, and elegance. Luckily, their versatility in meaning also makes them a practical choice for expressing thanks, appreciation, sincerity, and friendliness. They are also sometimes said to symbolize modesty.  
• Red: Red roses are, of course, a timeless and classic way to say “I love you,” as well as express deep romance and beauty. A solid bouquet of red roses has long been a popular choice for expressing love, but adding a few red roses to a multi-colored rose bouquet will also send the same message.

Carousel Floral Gifts and Garden has been serving the Rochester, Minnesota  area since 1991. We offer a selection of colorful flowers, including rose bouquets, to suit every occasion. Please visit our website to see our collections, or call us at (507) 288-7800.

Flowers for Prom

We’re just a few short weeks out from prom season! Prom is a magical night and is often described as the culmination of the American teenage experience. It’s known for its sometimes elaborate themes, as well as formal evening attire. The young men wear suits or tuxedos and boutonnieres, while the young ladies wear ball gowns and corsages. For a formal dance, it goes without saying that there will be tuxes, dresses, jewelry and fancy hairstyles. But what about the flowers? Let’s look a little into the history of boutonnieres and corsages.

Corsages have been part of formal wear for centuries. Derived from the French term "bouquet

Prom Corsages

de corsage," which translates to bouquet of the bodice, because originally corsages were worn as a cluster of flowers on the bodice of a gown. In ancient times, corsages were commonly worn to weddings as it was believed that the flowers and herbs placed in the corsage would ward off evil spirits. It wasn’t until the 20th century that the corsage was moved to the wrist and given as a gift to the promgoer by her date.

Boutonnière is the French word for “buttonhole.” Once upon a time, boutonnieres were worn frequently by men as part of their usual attire. According to GentlemansGazette.com, boutonnieres became popular as lapel adornments in the early 19th century. The fashions of this time period started to include coats that folded over at the top, revealing the inside of the buttonhole. Gentlemen would push the stem of a flower through the buttonhole and feed it into a loop at the back of the lapel which would hold it in place. Today, boutonnieres are usually only worn for special occasions, such as weddings or formal dances like homecoming and prom.

To make prom night even more magical, get your flowers from Carousel Floral Gifts & Garden! Our expert designers will handcraft a stunning corsage or boutonniere that will be the perfect complement to your prom attire. And a bonus tip for the young men out there: Make sure you ask your date what color she plans on wearing so that we can make a corsage that will beautifully complement or match her gown!

Seed Starting in Your Home

Spring is in the air!  The sun is warmer, the days are longer, the air is fresher and the ground is alive with the beginnings of new growth.  We live in a society where products are at our fingertips almost immediately.  All it takes is a drive to the local supermarket and we can pickup any food our stomach desires.  While most people are happy with this process, growing your own food is a more rewarding experience.  Even if you weren’t born with a green thumb, cultivating your inner farmer can easily be done all year round.

Did you know it’s possible to start your own plants from seeds indoors?  Seed starting is a method

used for those who want to start a sprout inside away from the cold and later move them outdoors to avoid shock.  If you’re thinking about seed starting before the warm weather arrives, follow these easy tips:

·         Keep your plants near a sunny window.  A south-facing window should give your container sufficient lighting.

·         Start seeds four to eight weeks before the plant-out date.  This will provide enough warmth and light for them to start growing before you move them outdoors.

·         Choose a container with drainage holes in the bottom.  Something as simple as a yogurt container with holes punched in the bottom will work. 

·         Start seedlings in containers that will hold 3 to 4 ounces of moist seed-starting mix.  Don’t use soil from your backyard but instead use a fertilizer-rich soil.

·         Water the seedlings carefully everyday and make sure they are not too wet and not too dry. 

·         Keep plants indoors until the last frost date in your area has passed and your soil has warmed. 

When the weather has warmed up and the soil is ready for your seedlings, get planting!  Serving the Rochester area since 1991, Carousel Flowers offers a large arrangement of blooming flowers delivered at the peak of their beauty and guaranteed to be in good health.  Plant our flowers in your outdoor garden and they can be enjoyed for years to come! 

For a full list of our flowers and plants, visit www.carouselflowers.com.

Enhance Your Home and Health With Indoor Plants

Something that never goes out of style is enhancing your interior design with the use of plants.  If

your home is not filled with beautiful plants, you are missing out on a number of physical and mental health benefits.  Not only do plants add beauty to your home, but studies show they have the potential to reduce stress, improve health, and enhance your mood.

At Carousel Floral Gifts and Garden, we believe there are a number of health benefits to having plants in your home.  Take a look at just some of the ways plants will improve your quality of life:

Better Breathing

It’s no surprise that increasing the amount of plants in your home will enhance your breathing.  Plants

continually undergo the process of photosynthesis, which absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen.  With the right plant, you can bring fresh air to any space day or night. 

Improved Health

From adding a few plants to your home and office, you can benefit from improved health!  Plants release moisture to the air that decreases the onset of dry skin, sore throats, coughs, headaches and even high blood pressure.  Studies have also shown that adding plants to hospital rooms can improve the recovery rates of ill patients.

Cleaner Air

Your home is likely suffering from indoor pollutants like carbon monoxide, lead particles, mold or smoke.  A simple solution to air pollutants is the addition of indoor plants.  Plants are a great way to rid the air of pollutants and replace them with clean oxygen.

Increased Happiness

It may sound silly, but plants can improve your overall state of mind.  The added oxygen of plants is shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.  Plants are also shown to improve your mood, self-esteem and optimism!

If you’re interested in enhancing your home with plants, we recommend placing at least one potted plant or floral in each room.  At Carousel Floral Gifts and Garden, our inventory features a variety of flowers, orchid plants, blooming plants and green plants.  We are happy to provide custom arrangements and baskets that will bring life to any home!

To order your floral arrangement from Carousel Floral Gifts & Garden, visit our website or give us a call at 507-288-7800.