♥ Every 12 years, the Dragon breathes fire into Victoria. 

The official Chinese New Year launches Monday January 23, with its moon cycles ruling over the solar cycles. But celebrations start as early as today and continue into the first week of February. Chinese New Year is known as the Spring Festival 春節 and marks the end of the winter season. It is the most important day for Chinese families because it represents 除夕(the Chú Xī) or “Eve of the Passing Year.”

There are many traditions and beliefs associated with the preparation of  除夕, including a complete spring clean and the decoration of each family home.  It is believed that the only way to make room for good incoming luck, is to sweep away any ill-fortune that may have found space in their home. They then decorate their home with fine fresh flowers and plants, in preparations for a large family gathering.

Homes are fully decorated with fresh flowers and live blooming plants. Plants and Flowers are highly symbolic to Chinese. Plum blossoms just starting to bloom, arranged with bamboo and pine sprigs, symbolize 

friends; the plum blossom signifies reliability and perseverance; the bamboo is known for its compatibility, its utility and it’s flexible and the evergreen pine evokes longevity and steadiness. Other highly prized flowers are the pussy willow, azalea, peony and water lily or narcissus. The Chinese New Year tradition is to reconcile, forget all grudges and sincerely wish peace and happiness for everyone. Over-all flowers are symbolic of wealth and high positions in one’s career rebirth and new growth therefore the Chinese firmly believe that ‘without flowers, there would be no first-fruits.’ It is of the utmost importance to have flowers and floral decorations.

θ Lucky is the home with a plant that blooms on New Year’s Day,

for that foretells a year of prosperity.

Chinese New Year is the longest and most important festivity in the Chinese calendar. Therefore staff from Petals n Buds Florists will recognize Kung Hee Fat Choy from January 20 through to February 5. Along with having a full selection of Blooming plants and cut flowers brought in just for this season, in our table-side sales program we ensure each fresh flower incorporates red color paper-cuts a unique greeting. These cuts are specially written to wish you “good fortune” or “happiness”, “wealth”, and “longevity”.

A Chinese New Year wish from Petals n Buds…

年年有余

(nián nián yǒu yú)

May you always receive more than you hope for!

Chinese Zodiac

 ~by Qiu Gui Su

The Chinese zodiac cycles every 12 years, and each year is named after an animal. This is the year of the Dragon.

• Rabbit : February 03, 2011 – January 22, 2012
• Dragon : January 23, 2012 – February 09, 2013
• Snake : February 10, 2013 – January 30, 2014
• Horse : January 31, 2014 – February 18, 2015
• Sheep : February 19, 2015 – February 07, 2016
• Monkey : February 08, 2016 – January 27, 2017
• Rooster : January 28, 2017 – February 18, 2018
• Dog : February 19, 2018 – February 04, 2019
• Pig : February 05, 2019 – January 24, 2020
• Rat : January 25, 2020 – February 11, 2021
• Ox : February 12, 2021 – January 31, 2022
• Tiger : February 1, 2023 – February 19, 2011

 PS. Just a suggestion… if you are not Chinese but choose to follow their traditions just remember “Don’t clean your home for the first few days of the New Year. If you do any sweeping during this time, you risk sweeping away your good luck.”

Woulda-Coulda-Shoulda

All the Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas
Layin’ in the sun
Talkin’ bout the things
They woulda-coulda-shoulda done…
But those Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas
All ran away and hid
From the litttle bitty Did.
~Silverstein

Check out this Utube Video… you are all worth it!

booooohahahaaaahalloween florenzy….if you dare to grasp our tainted budz you surely shall scare pixie, kebold, elf and sprite. All who are on their rounds tonight; In the wan moon’s silver ray, thrives their helter-skelter play                   …and…             bite.

Black Aggie

~A Maryland Ghost Story

When Felix Agnus put up the life-sized shrouded bronze statue of a grieving angel, seated on a pedestal, in the Agnus family plot in the Ross Bay Cemetery, he had no idea what he had started. The statue was a rather eerie figure by day, frozen in a moment of grief and terrible pain. At night, the figure with its shroud over its head obscuring the face was unbelievably creepy. It was not until you were up close that its form was made clear. There was a living air about the grieving angel, as if its arms could really reach out and grab you if you weren’t careful.

It didn’t take long for rumors to sweep through the town and surrounding countryside. They said that the statue – nicknamed Black Aggie – was haunted by the spirit of a mistreated wife who lay beneath her feet. The statue’s eyes would glow red at the stroke of midnight, and any living person who returned the statues gaze would instantly be struck blind. Any pregnant woman who passed through her shadow would miscarry. If you sat on her lap at night, the statue would come to life and crush you to death in her dark embrace. If you spoke Black Aggie’s name three times at midnight in front of a dark mirror, the evil angel would appear and pull you down to hell. They also said that spirits of the dead would rise from their graves on dark nights to gather around the statue at night.

People began visiting the cemetery just to see the statue, and it was then that the local fraternity decided to make the statue of Grief part of their initiation rites. “Black Aggie” sitting, where candidates for membership had to spend the night crouched beneath the statue with their backs to the grave of General Agnus, became popular.

One dark night, two fraternity members accompanied new hopeful to the cemetery and watched while he took his place underneath the creepy statue. The clouds had obscured the moon that night, and the whole area surrounding the dark statue was filled with a sense of anger and malice. It felt as if a storm were brewing in that part of the cemetery, and to their chagrin, the two fraternity members noticed that gray shadows seemed to be clustering around the body of the frightened fraternity candidate crouching in front of the statue.

What had been a funny initiation rite suddenly took on an air of danger. One of the fraternity brothers stepped forward in alarm to call out to the initiate. As he did, the statue above the boy stirred ominously. The two fraternity brothers froze in shock as the shrouded head turned toward the new candidate. They saw the gleam of glowing red eyes beneath the concealing hood as the statue’s arms reached out toward the cowering boy.

With shouts of alarm, the fraternity brothers leapt forward to rescue the new initiate. But it was too late. The initiate gave one horrified yell, and then his body disappeared into the embrace of the dark angel. The fraternity brothers skidded to a halt as the statue thoughtfully rested its glowing eyes upon them. With gasps of terror, the boys fled from the cemetery before the statue could grab them too.

Hearing the screams, a night watchman hurried to the Agnus plot. To his chagrin, he discovered the body of a young man lying at the foot of the statue. The young man had apparently died of fright.

The disruption caused by the statue grew so acute that the Agnus family finally donated it to the BC Maritime Museum in downtown Victoria. The grieving angel sat for many years in storage there, never again to plague the citizens visiting the Ross Bay Cemetery.

WHAT’S IN A NUMBER?

Numbers have always played an important role in floriography, the language of flowers. The number of flowers a person sends can convey a specific message to the recipient, and often holds special meaning. Refer to the list below to find out how different numbers of stems can represent different messages.

One

A solitary bloom is a long-standing symbol of love at first sight. Single flowers represent the utmost devotion to one person, and symbolize that all of the affections of the sender are centered on the recipient.

Thirteen

While the number 13 often has an unlucky association, sending this number of blooms to a loved one sends the message of “‘forever friends.” Thirteen flowers in a bouquet also indicate that the sender is a secret admirer, waiting to be discovered.

Twenty Four

A bouquet of two dozen flowers sends the message that the recipient is always on the sender’s mind. Each bloom represents the idea that a loved one is thought of during every hour of every day, and the sender can’t stop thinking about the recipient.

Fifty

Giving your lover 50 flowers says you feel the relationship has ripened well over the years, and the bond has never been regretted.

One Hundred

A bouquet of 100 flowers signifies a harmonious, happy union between two lovers until death. Sending someone 100 flowers also sends the message that the sender is totally devoted to the recipient. Adding just one more bloom, making it 101, asks the recipient to marry the sender.

Roses are always a perfect choice for expressing the nuances of your deepest feelings.  Still the language of color has a long history of tradition and today color meaning interpretations are multi-faceted. Here are the most widely recognized meanings associated with rose colors:

Traditional meaning of Rose Colors:

Classic Red: Red roses are a classic and a popular choice since their message is an unmistakable expression of love, beauty, and passion.   There are variations of the red variety and the deeper the red, the deeper the meaning. Dark reds show enduring romantic love whereas a brighter cherry red suggests its excitement and passion. In addition to their message of love, red roses can be given in recognition of courage and to say “Job well done.”

Early in a relationship is often too soon to send red roses. If you are not absolutely certain both of you are madly and passionately in love with each other, send any other color before red.

Traditional White: White flowers are traditional and convey feelings of peace and harmony. Giving white roses says that you believe that your intentions are pure and that the recipient is worthy.

Bright Yellow: Yellow is a bright color that immediately conjures up thoughts of summer and sunshine, and all things that are good. Therefore, yellow roses are always a safe color to send anyone and will always share a message of friendship, gladness and delight; perfect for the new mother, graduate or newly engaged.

Sweet Pink: There are many variations of pink roses and all of them communicate sweetness and elegance. Light pink roses show happiness, joy and admiration. If you want to send an expression of gratitude deep pink roses are perfect because they symbolize appreciation and thankfulness. If you want to recognize her feminine affection you may send roses with a dusty hint of pink.

Fiery Orange: Orange is a color of warmth and energy.  Orange roses convey the desire and fervor that the sender feels for the recipient. A toned down version of these brilliant color is what is called Fire n’ Ice Roses. Fire n’ Ice Roses have a yellow interior and a bright orange outline along each petal; these bright rose blossoms speak pride and enthusiasm coupled with happiness.

Enchanting Lavender: Purple is a novel color that conveys best wishes of health, wealth, and faithfulness. Sending this color rose says that you find the recipient as enchanting as the lavender rose. The light purple rose is a good choice if you want to express love at first sight and the deeper the color the more depth to your message. Often purple roses are harmonized with a very distinct, alluring aroma.

True Black: Black roses exist in fantasy but not in nature. Flowers which look black in color are really a deep purple or deep burgundy. Often manufactured, black roses symbolize the unattainable or impossible, which won’t make it a good choice to give someone you would like to maintain a relationship with anyway.

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LOYALTY

He may be six kinds of a liar,

He may be ten kinds of a fool,

He may be a wicked high-flyer

Beyond any reasons or rule;

There may be a shadow above him

Of ruin and woes to impend,

And I may not respect, but I love him,

Because—well, because he is my friend.

I know he has faults by the billion,

But his faults are a portion of him;

I know that his record’s vermilion,

And he’s far from the sweat Seraphim;

But he’s always been square with yours truly,

Ready to give or to lend,

And if he is wild and unruly,

I like him—because he’s my friend.

I criticize him but I do it

In just a frank, comradely key,

And back-biting gossips will rue it

If ever they knock him to me!

I never make diagrams of him,

No maps of his soul have I penned;

I don’t analyze-I just love him,

Because—well, because he’s my friend.

~Berton Bradley

It’s not what you’d do with a million,

If riches should e-er be your lot,

But what are you doing at present

With the dollar and a half you’ve got?

My name is Nataliia, with two I’s and my husband is Andriy. We are both from Ukraine, I am from Western part and Andriy is from Eastern, so we have different native languages, mine is Ukrainian and Andriys is Russian.

For many years, the Ukraine did not have independence from foreign countries and was deprived of all the things that our own country posses. We could neither make own decisions, nor can act as per our own will. When the Ukraine country became independent, we regained our lost fundamental rights and freedom. Like other countries, our Ukraine regained its freedom from the Soviet Unions on the 24th of august 1991.Today is Ukraine day by the way .

Ukraine is home to 46 million people, 77.8% of whom are ethnic Ukrainians, with a significant Russian minority (17%).While Ukrainian is the official and dominant language, Russian is also widely spoken. There is still a pronounced societal divide between the Russian-speaking Eastern half (that politically and spiritually sides with Russia) and the Ukrainian speaking Western half that is more European in its outlook and attitudes. However, we met in Portland Oregon, 3 years ago, and we were in a long distance relationship for about 2 years. We are definitely happy to move together as soon as we can!

The most important information about us is that “we are in love with the city of Victoria” and delighted we got married there! Andriy thinks that it is a magical and the best place in the world!

Thank you again for all your help, Tara, and hope to meet in the future again :

If with pleasure you are viewing any work a

man is doing,

If you like him or you love him. Tell him now;

Don’t withhold your approbation till the

person makes oration

And he lies with snowy lilies on his brow;

No matter how you shout it he won’t really

care about it;

He won’t know how many teardrops you have shed;

If you think some praise is due him now’s

the time to slip it to him,

For he cannot read this tombstone when his dead.

More than fame and more than money is the

comment kind and sunny

And the hearty, warm approval of a friend.

For it gives to life a savor, and it makes you

stronger, braver,

And it gives you heart and spirit to the end;

If he earns your praise—bestow it; if you like him

let him know it;

Let the words of true encouragement be said;

Do not wait till life is over and he’s

underneath the clover,

For he cannot read his tombstone when he’s dead.

~Berton Braley

^ ABOVE PHOTOS ^ are those taken between August 1 – 15, 2011

^ ABOVE PHOTOS ^ are those taken between August 16 – 31, 2011