YORKTON - Happy Chinese New Year! This is the world’s biggest party, celebrated by one quarter of the world’s population! This is a party where everyone celebrates, and did you know that there will be three and a half billion trips in China as family and friends gather to celebrate! So dress up in red, red is a lucky color in China, a color that represents happiness, beauty, good luck, and good fortune and celebrate! This is the year of the Wood Snake, which comes around only every 60 years. The wood snake represents wisdom and calmness, a good thing for everyone to have!
Chinese New Year is also known as “Spring Festival”, so as gardeners let’s talk about Chinese New Year special plants! They all have special meaning and are chosen as gifts or decorations because of these special meanings; make a cup of green tea and let’s find out more!
The kumquat tree is associated with wealth and good fortune. The cheery bright orange kumquats are believed to bring luck and prosperity. I read that if we have this kind of plant, it is good to place it near the entrance of our homes, inviting in positive energy. Kumquat plants are not that common here, so perhaps we could do the next best thing and buy some kumquats at the grocery store, to keep on our kitchen table. Let’s make a list: let’s also add a few mandarins. The mandarin represents the sun and the positive force of nature. The Chinese name of the mandarin is very similar to the Chinese word for good fortune, so the fruit represents good luck as well. I read that two mandarin oranges and a red envelope of money is placed by the pillow of each child in the family for good luck in the coming year, and mandarin oranges are also placed on the rice container to bring good luck to the entire home.
Next, let’s add the pretty pomelo to the list. The Chinese word for pomelo is “you”, and “you” sounds much like the word that means “to have”. So this is another symbol of prosperity, but buy two, because the Chinese believe that good things come in pairs!
What about some flowers? I learned that the Chinese love the peach blossom for New Year’s. When a Chinese family buys a branch of peach blossoms to decorate their home for the holiday, they put the branch into the oldest vase they have, believing that it will bloom longer. The peach represents longevity.
Peonies are considered the “king of the flowers”, and what a fitting title! They are so beautiful and fragrant, and are believed to attract wealth and honor. Roses are also beloved because of fragrance, but they carry a message of a new beginning, perfect for the new year.
Carnations are a symbol of love.
Stunning orchids symbolize fertility and abundance in the coming year. We might think they are difficult houseplants to care for, but as long as we give them bright indirect light, in a spot that is free from chilly drafts, and regular watering, they will reward us with stunning blooms that last a long time.
The exotic bromeliad is a cousin of the pineapple, considered a lucky plant. (Pineapples have long been a symbol of hospitality). Bromeliads like bright light, and guess what, we water them by filling the cup in the middle of the plant. The soil around the plant should stay somewhat dry.
Have a Happy New Year, make it special with foods and flowers! Gong Xi Fa Cai, wishing you prosperity and wealth! Mitch, enjoy the party! Thank you to YTW for their great work. Visit the hort society at www.yorktonhort.ca and have a sparkling week!
