This season, "awaken" some of your summer senses with these flower-ful ideas:

Colors of Summer
Scents of Summer
Tastes of Summer

Colors of Summer
Light consists of seven color energies: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet. Each color is linked to various areas in our bodies, so no two colors affect us the same way. When choosing flowers for a particular person or occasion, consider the effect of color on mood, energy levels, and brainpower. Or match the flowers' color with the receiver's personality.

Red: Strength & Energy
Red promotes vitality, courage, and self-confidence. Red captures the power of the earth and connects us with our physical bodies. It gives us strength to meet demands when we are drained of energy.

"Red People" are courageous and confident; humanistic and strong-willed; spontaneous, honest, and extroverted.

Red flowers complement romantic occasions such as weddings and anniversaries. They also suit environments and events that demand high-energy levels.

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Orange: Enthusiasm & Joy
Orange embodies happiness, confidence, and resourcefulness. An emotional stimulant, orange removes our inhibitions, connects us to our senses, and makes us independent and social.

"Orange People" are enthusiastic and happy; sociable and energetic; self-assured, sporty, and constructive.

Orange and peach flowers complement cheerful occasions and gatherings such as a new baby, birthday parties, weddings, and anniversary celebrations.

Yellow: Wit & Intelligence
Yellow is associated with wisdom, clarity, and self-esteem. Its energy connects us to our mental selves; it gives us clarity of thought, increases our awareness, and stimulates our interest and curiosity.

"Yellow People" are good-humored, optimistic, confident, practical, and intellectual.

Yellow flowers are especially suited to the workplace or other environments where ideas are exchanged.

Green: Harmony & Rebirth
Green fosters balance, love, and self-control. It also helps to relax our muscles and nerves. Green connects us to unconditional love and balances our energy, giving us feelings of renewal, peace, and synchronicity.

"Green People" are understanding, self-controlled, adaptable, and sympathetic. They are also generous, humble, and romantic, and outdoorsy.

Green plants are especially suited to places where healing and renewal take place, such as hospitals, medical offices, and health spas.

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Blue: Tranquility & Certainty
Blue cultivates knowledge, health, and decisiveness. It has a pacifying effect on the nervous system and helps to counteract insomnia and hyperactivity. Blue connects us to holistic thought; it gives us clarity and wisdom by enhancing our communication skills.

"Blue People" are affectionate and caring, inventive, loyal, and inspiring.

Indigo: Freedom & Insight
Indigo enhances intuition, mysticism, and understanding; its energy connects us to our unconscious selves, making us feel that we're a part of the whole universe. Indigo stimulates our imagination and psychic powers, and increases dream activity.

"Indigo People" seek the truth. They are intuitive, fearless, practical, idealistic, and wise.

Violet: Purity & Wonder
Violet intensifies beauty, creativity, and inspiration; it purifies our thoughts and enhances artistic talent and creativity. The violet energy connects us with our spiritual selves, bringing guidance, wisdom, and inner strength.

"Violet People" are inspirational leaders. They are kind, humanitarian, self-sacrificing, visionary, and creative.

Violet flowers suit artistic environments such as art studios and galleries where inspiration and creativity are key.

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Scents of Summer
Aromatherapy is exactly what the word implies: using plant and floral fragrances to heal and refresh the body and mind. Every plant, flower, or herb has an aromatic essence that determines its unique smell or taste. Working through our sense of smell, these essences trigger the brain to release chemicals that reduce pain and relax and calm the body.

Aromatherapy is not a new concept. Anthropologists believe that primitive man used scented flowers and herbs for both ceremony and pleasure. Ancient Egyptians added the essence of chamomile in massage oils, and Greek athletes sprinkled themselves with scented nectar to enhance athletic performance. Cleopatra used pillows filled with rose petals to induce sleep. The Romans added lavender to their baths to soothe muscles and relax the spirit, and African tribespeople coated their skin with fragrant oils to protect them from the sun.

Floral fragrances can dramatically enhance our moods and health. Lavender flowers and roses are known for their calming effect. Strongly-scented flowers such as the lily, rose, lilac and sweet-pea are known to invoke feelings of romance. The fragrance of the ylang ylang tree's yellow flower is so captivating that Indonesians place it on newlyweds' beds!

Floral fragrances improve learning and productivity. In 1995, a study at the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation showed that aromatic essences — especially floral scents — increased learning speed by 17 per cent. Similarly, office workers work much faster in offices filled with fragrant flowers than in odorless environments.

Using fragrance to enhance the home has occured throughout history. The Bible notes the frequent use of frankincense; potporri is often mentioned in Shakespere's plays. To perfume the air of banquet halls, ancient Greeks and Romans sprinkled doves' wings with scented oils before releasing them into the room.

Today, relaxing music and soft fragrances are combined to make a home more inviting. A home's scent is particularly important to potential buyers — it can make or break a buyer's interest. Placing fragrant bouquets or mild potporri in selected rooms before an open house often results in a faster sale.

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Tastes of Summer
If you have a taste for edible flowers, it's safest to use only those you grow yourself. Make sure you know the precise botanical name of the seed or plant, so you know exactly what you're growing and eating. It's a good idea to remove pistils and stamens from flowers before ingesting them. Additionally, those who suffer from hay fever, asthma, or allergies should not eat flowers. Of course, never use pesticides on culinary plants.

Edible Flowers: Tops in Taste

Borage (Borago officinalis)

• Look: Small purple-blue flowers
• Flavor: Light and herbal, sometimes grassy
• Tip: Grows best in the summer garden

• Look: Yellow or orange flowers
• Flavor: Bland, slightly bitter
• Tip: Spring and fall bloom in cold areas, winter bloom in milder climates

• Look: Warm colors; red-orange is classic
• Flavor: Sweet, buttery lettuce
• Tip: Grows best in late spring through summer

English Daisy (Bellis perennis)

• Look: White, yellow-centered; pink and red
• Flavor: Bland or grassy
• Tip: Grows best in cool seasons

• Look: Variety of colors
• Flavor: Delicious; peppery bite
• Tip: Try with guacamole

• Look: Variety of colors
• Flavor: Ranging from sweet and lettuce-like to bland and bitter
• Tip: Grows best in cool weather

Rose (Rosa hybrids)

• Look: Varied colors
• Flavor: Ranging from sweet, to flavorless, to bitter
• Tip: Darker petals have the most intense taste

• Look: Yellow-orange flowers
• Flavor: Moist and delicious, like fresh squash
• Tip: Velvety, slightly crunchy texture makes a great garnish for summer soup

• Look: Blue and white flowers
• Flavor: Ranging from subtle to hints of lettuce and licorice
• Tip: Wonderful as a garnish with cream cheese

Sources:
colourenergy.com, sunsetmagazine.com

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