Flower of the Day - Hebe diosmifolia

                                           

Flower of the Day  - Hebe diosmifolia
Energetic properties: enabling higher thoughts, deflecting lower energies
Message for today: think the best of yourself and others

Flower of the Day - Hebe

Flower of the Day - Hebe
Energetic properties: deflecting lower energies
Message for today: be positive and focus on the big picture rather than on small annoyances.

Originally from New Zealand, hebes are popular evergreen garden shrubs, with many hybrid varieties available. The racemes of flowers may be white, purple, pink, lilac, or blue.  More on hebes at The Hebe Society.

Flower of the Day - Japanese Wisteria

Flower of the Day - Japanese Wisteria (Wisteria floribunda)
Energetic properties: increasing focus and energy, helping with decision making and procrastination, feminine strengths

Today's message: choosing natural cleaning products and fresh natural foods will help keep a clear head.

October is wisteria time in Sydney!  These beautiful clusters of mauve/blue pea shaped flowers have an exotic floral perfume. There is also a white version of this wisteria that smells lovely too.

Flower of the Day - Bluebells

Flower of the Day - Spanish Bluebell (Endymion hispanicus)

Energetic properties:  joyful and uplifting, connecting to plants and nature
Today's Message: remember to enjoy fresh flowers or indoor plants into your home

These beautiful bell shaped flowers pop up in my garden from bulbs at the end of each Winter. I love seeing them flowering during the first weeks of September.

Flower of the Day - African Daisy

Flower of the Day - African Daisy (Arctotis hybrid)
Energetic properties: calming and reducing stress, connecting with friends

 Message for today: Thinking about, or connecting with a close friend or loved one during a busy day can improve focus and reduce stress. 

Flower of the Day - Oriental poppy (Papaver oriental)

Flower of the Day - Oriental poppy
Energetic properties - happy surprises, fulfilling dreams that seem impossible

Today's message - Even a seemingly small deed can bring much happiness to those around you 

This week "Flower of the Day" will feature flowers in soft, calming shades of mauve and blue - one of my favourite colours.

Oriental poppy is the type of poppy that has edible seeds that can be used in baking and in curries.  

Pretty in Pink - Flower of the Day - Tea Tree

Flower of the Day - Tea tree
Energetic properties - purification, clearing negative emotions and emotional balance

Message for today - spend some time in the sunshine to lift your mood and spirits

Tea Tree is a beautiful Australian wildflower with abundant pink flowers about 16mm across, with nectar in the centre.  Tea tree is in the same plant family as the Eucalypts and bottlebrushes (Myrtaceae).

Tea tree oil, extracted from the leaves is a powerful natural antiseptic and anti fungal agent. It has long been used by the indigenous Australians in north eastern NSW, the crushed leaves as a poultice for cuts and wounds and the oil for inhalation for respiratory infections - see history of tea tree oil. 

Pretty in Pink - Flower of the Day - Boronia pinnata

Flower of the Day - Boronia pinnata 

Energetic properties - mental clarity, space clearing, serenity

Message for today - Tidy up your desk or workspace! Having a clear area to work will help you work more efficiently.

Boronias are named after the 18th century botanist Francesco Borone. They are generally small shrubs with star like flowers 10 - 15mm across. Boronia pinnata is named for its narrow (pinnate) foliage. These flowers occur naturally only on the east coast of New South Wales, although they are  cultivated as garden plants across Australia.

Pretty in Pink - Flower of the Day - Pink Boronia

Flower of the Day - Pink Boronia (Boronia ovata)

Energetic properties - clarity of mind, calmness and serenity

Message for today - quietening the mind and staying calm will help accomplish more

Boronia ovata is a small shrub, named after its leaves which are elongated and eliptical in shape. The delicate flowers are star shaped and may be pale pink to deep pink in colour. Boronia has 95 different species, 94 of which occur only in Australia. 

Pretty in Pink - Flower of the Day - Dianthus (Sweet William)

Flower of the Day - Dianthus
Energetic properties - attracting joy, love and romance

Today's message - remember to take time to enjoy yourself 

These pretty flowers (Dianthus barbatus) are in the same family as carnations (Caryophyllaceae).

Pretty in Pink - Flower of the Day - Peach Blossom

Flower of the Day - Pink Blossom

Message - Romance and grace
Energetic properties - choosing the higher path

"Flower of the Day" will celebrate pink flowers each day this week.  

Pink is a happy colour, associated with calming, softness, delicacy, feminine energy, healing, tenderness and compassion. It is also the colour of romance - perfect for the first weeks of Spring.

Flower of the Day - Spanish Lavender (Lavendula stoechus hybrid)

Flower of the Day - Spanish lavender
Energetic properties - settling, restoring and balancing

This variety of lavender has been hybridised to maximise its spectacular mauve "wings" or bracts. Quite a few of the flowers on this bush had multiple flower clusters and bracts.

Lavender has long been of my favourite flowers, and not surprisingly, lavender oil is also one of my favourites.  Lavender oil has been used traditionally as a remedy for sleeplessness, tension, nervousness and anxiety.  The best quality lavender oil is extracted from English lavender (Lavendula augustifolia). 

Aromatherapy is also a natural way to reduce stress and increase wellbeing.  Lavender oil can also be used in combination with bergamot, geranium, lemon, orange and eucalyptus oils. For more uses of lavender oil and aromatherapy visit In Essence, an Australian company that specialises in pure essential oils.

Flower of the Day - Spanish lavender

Flower of the Day - Spanish Lavender
Message - relaxation is important for your wellbeing

Another hybrid of Spanish lavender with tubular deep purple flowers  and pinkish/purple bracts.

Flower of the Day - Pink Lavender (Lavendula "Sweetberry Ruffles)

Flower of the Day - Lavendula "Sweetberry Ruffles"

Energetic properties - calming and easing anxiety

Message - bringing sweetness to your day

This pretty lavender with deep pink flowers and pale pink bracts (modified leaves) is one of the specialty hybrids developed from Spanish lavender and other varieties.

Some other hybrids available include:

• Lavender Avonview - vibrant dark blue flower heads with contrasting violet purple bracts.
• Devonshire compact - purple blossoms and pink bracts
• Fairy wings - purple blossoms and lavender/pink bracts
• Hazel - purple blossoms and blue bracts
• James Compton - purple blossoms and pink/purple bracts
• Big Butterfly - purple blossoms and blue bracts
• Wings of Night - Deep purple blossoms and bright purple bracts
• Willowvale - purple blossoms and mauve bracts

Flower of the Day - Spanish Lavender (Lavendula stoechus)

Flower of the Day - Spanish lavender

Energetic properties - relaxing and calming

This type of lavender is often described incorrectly as French lavender, but is is origins are from Spain and the Mediterranean region. It's also known as bush lavender, Italian lavender, top lavender, topped lavender and wild lavender.

The purple tubular flowers are arranged in dense cylindrical clusters and the flowers are topped with up to five purple or violet bracts (modified leaves).

Spanish lavender thrives in dry conditions, which is great for gardens but not for the environment. Lavender stoechus is regarded as a significant environmental weed in Western Australia, parts of Victoria, and in South Australia, particularly the Clare Valley. There are now hybrid varieties available (such as Avonview) which are seedless and non invasive.

Flower of the Week - Lavender

Flower of the Day - French Lavender (Lavendula dentata)

Energetic properties - calming, restorative, balancing, and promoting sleep

I have always known this as "English Lavender" however I have recently learned that it is actually French lavender! Apparently it doesn't smell the same as the real English lavender either - its scent is described as between lavender and rosemary.  

Purple Flower of the Day - Violet (Viola Hederacea)

Flower of the Day- Violet

Message - Treat yourself gently

Purple Flower of the Day - Tibouchina

Flower of the Day - Tibouchina

Message - Treat yourself well today

Also known as Purple glory bush or Lasiandra, these purple to purple violet flowers usually flower in Autumn and Winter.

Purple Flower of the Day - Freesia

Flower of the Day - Freesia

Energetic properties - increasing energy and support for spiritual growth & healing

Freesias are in the same plant family (Iridaceae) as irises, gladioli and crocus. I spotted these vibrant purple freesias in a neighbourhood garden when I was out on my morning walk. 

Purple flower of the Day - African Daisy

Flower of the Day - African Daisy

Message - abundance, finding treasure

Indigo Flower of the Day - Viola

Flower of the day - Viola (also called Heartsease)

Energetic properties - increasing sensitivity & healing

"Purples" are interesting colours - including the bluish hued "indigo" and the more reddish "violet". These colours are at the longer wavelength end of the visible light spectrum, and are harder for human eyes to distinguish than, say, the greens in the mid spectrum.  I'm sure they are perceived differently, depending on one's colour vision. Anyway, to my eyes, (and on my computer!) this "purple" flower appears to be closer indigo than violet.