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Gerbera Daisies: These lively, festive flowers
originated in Africa and are now cultivated in a dazzling array of cheerful
colors.
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Gladioli: Pliny the Elder, a Roman scientist of the first
century A.D. named these stately flowers. Struck by the resemblance between the
sheath of the flower and the weapon that was carried by Roman soldiers, he
called the flower “gladiolus” from the Latin word
“gladius” which means sword.
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Lilies: These striking trumpet-shaped flowers are one
of the oldest known to man and are thought to have originated in the Orient.
Throughout the ages, they have been popular motif in both secular and religious
art.
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Snapdragons: These old-fashioned favorites with the
whimsical name are native to the Mediterranean. Their Latin name is
Antirrhinum, meaning like a snout. Other common names for these flowers are
calves’ snouts, lion’s lips, toad’s mouth and rabbit’s
mouth.
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Tulips: The tulip, a symbol of life, love and immortality,
actually dates back to the time of Confucius. By the late 1600’s in
Holland, bulb prices often exceeded the price of precious metals. A single bulb
is said to have sold for more that $2,000.
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