Blue & White Flower of the Day - Lavender sensation white (Lavandula pedunculata)

Flower of the Day - Lavender white

Energetic properties - communication with the angelic realm

Message - help is always available when you need it

This beautiful lavender growing in my garden was a gift from my friend Romaine.  The flowers are a soft grey-blue and tipped with large white wings. 

Blue Australian wildflowers - Dampiera

Pretty Australian  native groundcover, Dampiera Diversifolia has a brilliant blue colour.

Photo courtesy of  Greenstead Nurseries , in South Australia.

Blue Flower of the Day - Spanish bluebell (Endymion hispanicus)

Flower of the Day - Bluebells
Energetic properties - gifts from the natural world

Message - being in nature, and taking care of the natural environment is a pastime that offers many rewards

Originally from Europe and South Africa, these bulbs flower in late Winter or early Spring. I just love the colour!

Other notable blue flowers are cornflower, clematis, blue crocus, lithodora, forget-me-not, iris, hyacinth, grape hyacinth, hydrangea, petunia & lavender. 

Blue Australian wildflowers include the groundcover Dampiera diversifolia, Blue Lechenaultia,  Royal bluebell (Wahlenbergia gloriosa), native bluebell (Wahlenbergia stricta), the Western Australian variegated blue daisy (Felicia amelloides) and the climbing bluebell Billardiera fusiformis (also from Western Australia)

Blue Flower of the Day - Spring starflower (Ipheion uniflorum)

Flower of the Day - Spring starflower

Energetic Properties - restoration of soul purpose,
 finding your own "True North"

Blue, being the colour of the sky and the ocean in fine weather, is a calming, tranquil and soothing colour. "Blue skies" has come to mean that all is well.

In the animal kingdom, there are not many blue animals, although there are numerous birds that have blue feathers. The most vibrant blues are usually reserved for the male birds, so that they can attract the attention of females. Interestingly, in the animal world bright blue can also mean danger - for example the blue ringed octopus is highly poisonous.  Despite this association, blue is generally regarded as a safe and reassuring colour.

Green/Pink Flower of the Day - Hellebore

Flower of the Day - Hellebore

Message - happiness of the heart

Green, being in the middle of the visible light spectrum, is the colour that is most visible to the human eye. We can distinguish more shades of green than of any other colour.

The colours pink and green are traditionally associated with the heart chakra, and have a calming and restorative energy. 

Green Flower of the Day - Hellebore bud

Flower of the Day - Hellebore

Message - overcoming sadness and grief, healing the heart

This Hellebore bud is tinged with green. Hellebores (Helleborus orientalis) are also known as the Winter rose or Lenten rose. 

Green, together with pink are the colours traditionally associated with the Heart Chakra (or energy centre). 

Green Flower of the Day - Snowdrop or Snowflake (Leucojum vernum)

Flower of the Day - Snowdrop (or Snowflake)

Message - be yourself, be natural & have fun

Green is the colour of nature and the symbol for sustainability, conservation and recycling.  Those who have a talent for gardening are said to have "green thumbs" or "green fingers".

Some ways to be more green could be:

• removing invasive plants and weeds from your garden
• enjoying locally grown seasonal produce instead of imported items
• selecting organic fruit, vegetables, grains and packaged foods where possible
• remembering to use a pretty shopping bag instead of flimsy plastic bags
• choosing products with less packaging
• using a beautiful cup instead of disposable cups
• avoiding bringing unnecessary plastic items into the home
• walking instead of driving short distances
• buying a beautiful vintage item instead of a cheaply made new one

Green Flower of the Day - Freesia bud

Flower of the Day - Freesia

Message - take care of your personal environment

This freesia bud is glossy green with purple markings. 

Green is the colour of plants, and the colour of nature. The green belt in Judo symbolises green trees. In Japan green is regarded as the colour of eternal life. In China green jade stones represent virtue and beauty.
Other associations with green are good luck, success, compassion, purity, harmony, the environment, sustainability, calmness and relaxation, healing, money, envy, fertility, stability, generosity and endurance.

from "colour, a journey" 2012 by Victoria Alexander, Murdoch Books Australia 

Yellow/Green Flower of the Day - Gazania

Flower of the Day - Gazania

Message - Inner wisdom

True green flowers are rare in nature, as green is generally the colour of foliage.  This gazania bud has pretty striped petals with a greenish tinge. More yellow colour will develop as the flower opens.

Yellow Flower of the Day - Wattle

Flower of the Day - Wattle

Energetic Properties - fun and gentle laughter

Yellow is an uplifting colour. Some ways to include more yellow in your life could be:

• spend some time out in the sun each day
• eat lemons, bananas, pineapple and mangoes
• plant a golden wattle, daisy or sunflowers
• wear golden jewellery
• appreciate fresh butter on your toast
• knit a yellow scarf
• cook with saffron and turmeric
• paint a wall yellow
• treat yourself to some lemon myrtle soap
• use lemon essential oil or lemon scented candles at home for an uplifting and refreshing scent

Yellow Flower of the Day - Dandelion

Flower of the Day - Dandelion

Message - Enjoy the simple things in life

"Yellow is one of the strongest colours, brilliant and resolute; psychologists recommend it as the colour of confidence, one that helps overcome shyness. A symbol for the desert, the sun, gold, abundance, hazard and risk, cheerful and aggressive yellow is stimulating no matter what form it takes."

from "colour a journey" 2012 by Victoria Alexander, Murdoch Books Australia

Yellow Flower of the Day - Tulip

Flower of the Day -  Yellow Tulip

Message - Grace, sunshine, imagination

Yellow: a colour associated with sunny days, cheerfulness, energy, intellect, optimism, happiness, idealism, imagination, summer, philosophy and hope.

Yellow is the colour of flowers being reborn in Spring, crops ripening and the colour of newly hatched chicks.  It also is one of the Autumn colours of changing leaves.  In Asia yellow has imperial and sacred significance, being the colour of Buddhism.

These yellow tulips were bought from the local supermarket. They are photographed against a painted backdrop - one of my oil painted canvases with frangipani flowers.

Orange Flower of the Day - Crucifix Orchid

Flower of the Day - Crucifix Orchid

Message - Hope and Redemption

The Crucifix Orchid (Epidendrum radicans) is a lithophytic orchid (it grows on rocks). Its colour is gorgeous - this one ranges from shades of red and orange to golden yellow. There are also pink and mauve varieties.

Orange Flower of the Day - Gazania

Flower of the Day - Gazania

Energetic properties - Optimism, wisdom, happiness

A rich and vibrantly coloured Orange Gazania.

Orange is a colour of optimism and happiness.
For more Orange in your life, try the following:

• Wear an orange top or scarf
• buy some orange flowers
• have an orange themed party
• bake an orange cake
• eat orange food - pumpkin, kumera, rockmelon, oranges
• use aromatherapy with orang or mandarin essential oils, or  light some orange scented candles

Orange flower of the Day - Bottlebrush

Flower of the Day - Bottlebrush

Message - Life can be sweet

Orange Flower of the Day - Clivea

Flower of the Day - Clivea

Message - Inspiration bears fruit

Orange is associated with festivity, happiness, fun, joyousness, optimism, balance, ambition, being energetic, flamboyance, warmth, enthusiasm, generosity, vibrance and expansion.

Red Fruit of the Day - Clivea

Fruit of the Day - Clivea

Message - abundance, enjoying the fruits of one's labour

Red is a colour associated with festivities, physical energy, survival and sexuality. Some ways to add more red in your life could be:

• wear red clothing
• accessorise your home with red - cushions, throws
• sleep in red sheets
• wear red lipstick
• eat red foods - strawberries, cherries, cranberry juice and beetroot
• carry or wear a red stone such as ruby or garnet

Red Flower of the Day - Camellia

Flower of the day - Red Camellia

Energetic properties - increasing optimism, energy and warmth during Winter

Associations with the colour Red include passion, festivity, vibrancy, energy, love, courage, exciting, intense, dangerous, stimulating, aggressive, powerful, & warmth , according to Victoria Alexander in her book "colour a journey" (Murdoch Books Australia 2012). 

Types of Red - blood red, ruby red, lipstick red, letterbox red, London bus red, cardinal red, coral red, scarlet, carmine, Canadian Mountie red, Santa Claus clothes red, fire engine red and tomato red.

Red Flower of the Day - Rose

Flower of the Day - Red rose

Energetic properties -Red roses are traditionally associated with love and romance and enhancing passion and motivation.

"The Russian word for red, krasniy, originally meant 'beautiful'. In the Slavic family of languages, red denotes living and beauty, and who could not like the idea of red sharing a common root with the words for joy, hilarity and love, as it does in the Indian language?" 

from "colour a journey" by Victoria Alexander (Murdoch Books 2012)

Flower of the Day - A Colourful Bouquet

Flower of the Day - a bouquet of pinks, reds, green and purple

Energetic properties - Freedom in self expression
Message - Colour outside the lines!

Colour "informs our days" and can have powerful effects on our emotions and wellbeing, according to author Victoria Alexander in her book,  "colour a journey"  (Murdoch Books Australia 2012). 

Inspired by Victoria's journey around the world in search of colour, I will be doing colour themed "Flower of the day" for the next few weeks.

This vibrantly coloured bouquet was a gift from some very special friends.  

Flower of the Day - Crab apple

Flower of the Day - Crab apple 

Message - trust, going ahead with new ideas and projects

Flower of the Day - Peach Blossom

Flower of the Day - Peach Blossom
Message - Inspiration to complete projects

Flower of the Day - Camellia

Flower of the Day - Camellia

Message - comfort and hope during Winter