Tara Carlson, Author at 1800Flowers Petal Talk

Best Cherry Blossom Festivals in the US

cherry blossom festivals with Cherry blossom tree

From New York to California, cities and towns across America wait in anticipation for the annual blooming of cherry blossom trees. But did you know that the cherry blossom is more than just a beautiful tree? It’s also a celebrated symbol of the friendship between the United States and Japan.

In 1912, Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo City gifted Washington, D.C., with hundreds of traditional cherry trees as a symbol of the growing friendship between the two nations. Now, every year, cities around the country honor traditional Japanese culture with festivals, parades, and week-long celebrations.

If you’re looking to experience the festivities for yourself, here are the top cherry blossom festivals in the country.

Northern California Cherry Blosso m Festival

Where: Post Street between Laguna and Fillmore Street
When: April 13–14 and April 20–21
As the biggest celebration of Asian culture and tradition on the West Coast, the festival receives around 200,000 people each year. The festivities include a Grand Parade, performances of all kinds, art displays, food offerings, and a bevy of cultural programs.

Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival of Greater Philadelphia

Where: The main celebration is held April 13 and 14 at the Horticulture Center and Centennial Arboretum in West Fairmount Park, but additional events are held throughout the city and suburbs at other times during the month.
When: Throughout April (centerpiece event is April 13 and 14)
This annual event celebrates not only the spring and the beautiful flowers it brings but also Japanese culture. From demonstrations of martial arts and ikebana flower arranging to library story hours and live musical and dance performances, Japanese culture and art are on full display here.

cherry blossom festivals with Macon, Georgia cherry blossoms

International Cherry Blossom Festival

Where: Macon, Georgia
When: March 15–24
With more than 300,000 trees in bloom every year, Macon, Georgia, is the cherry blossom capital of the world. Visitors can watch as women make traditional Japanese flower arrangements, and take a tour through the “forest” of cherry trees that line the streets and parks.

Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival

Where: Public Square Park at Metro Courthouse
When: April 13
In 2009, Nashville set out to plant 1,000 cherry blossom trees over the next 10 years, and the city has since accomplished its goal. At the festival, you can take a tour of Music City as you walk the 2.5-mile trail of cherry blossoms.

Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival

Where: Branch Brook Park
When: April 3–14
In honor of the initial gift of 2,000 trees to Branch Brook Park in 1927, every year Essex Country transforms into New Jersey’s very own cherry blossom central. Athletic types have several different ways to enjoy the day, including a bike race, 10K, and mile run. If you don’t feel like working up a sweat, check out Family Day or Bloomfest.

cherry blossom festivals with Cherry Blossom Branch

Weekends in Bloom

Where: Brooklyn Botanical Garden
When: Weekends from April 20 to May 12
A new offering starting in 2023, this celebration of spring blooms features live music, family activities, cultural performances, and tours of the grounds. One of the events, called Hanami Nights, features the cherry blossoms illuminated as well as Japanese beer, cocktails, and snacks.

City of Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival

Where: Georgia International Horse Park
When: March 23–24
The Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival features multiple stages filled with endless entertainment, including traditional music, crafts, games, and dance. Started in 1982, the festival has grown tremendously over the years, and it now welcomes thousands of guests every year to get a taste of Japanese — and Southern — culture.

Cherry Blossom Festival

Where: Honolulu, Hawaii
When: Jan. 13–March 29
The Cherry Blossom Festival in Honolulu kicks off a bit earlier than the ones in the continental U.S. do, and it goes on for a lot longer too — a full 2 1/2 months! The centerpiece of the event is the Queen Contestant experience, which begins with the introduction of the 15 contestants at the opening ceremony, continues with the women making public appearances and attending community service events around the island, and culminates in the naming of the Queen and Court at the Cherry Blossom Festival Ball.

Cherry Blossom Festival Fort Wayne

Where: Walb Student Union, Purdue Fort Wayne University
When: May 19
Japanese folk dancing, taiko drums, and authentic anime drawings are just a few of the many cultural events you can find along the streets of Fort Wayne. Participants can also enter contests; there is one for cosplay, in which entrants are judged on costume, presentation, and style, and another for haiku writing!

cherry blossom festivals with cherry blossom tree in Washington, D.C.

National Cherry Blossom Festival

Where: Washington, D.C.
When: March 20–April 14
You know we couldn’t leave Washington, D.C., off the list! Between the opening ceremony, Pink Tie Party, Blossom Kite Festival, National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade, and fireworks show, there is almost always something going on at the largest and most popular cherry blossom festival in the United States!

8 Best Tulip Festivals in the World in 2024

March 20 marks the first day of spring, and that means warmer weather, barbecues, and flowers in full bloom. Cities and towns across the globe (at least those in the Northern Hemisphere) have already started gearing up for festivals honoring spring’s favorite flower — the tulip! This uniquely colored flower only pops up for a few weeks every year, so you’ll want to make the most of this year’s tulip bloom by visiting some of the best tulip festivals in the world.

Best tulip festivals around the world

From Australia to India, these tulip festivals wow visitors with their scale and splendor.

Keukenhof

Where: Lisse, Netherlands
When: March 21–May 12

Known as “The most beautiful spring garden in the world,” the Keukenhof holds more than 800 varieties of tulips and 7 million bulbs. Visitors can take in the sights in a variety of ways, including by boat, bike, or foot.

But there’s more to see here than just beautiful flowers: A collection of artwork and a number of restaurants are located throughout the park. If you’re out with the family, the Keukenhof also has a treasure hunt, petting zoo, maze, and playground to keep your little ones entertained for hours.

Canadian Tulip Festival

Where: Ottawa, Canada
When: May 10–20

Since 1953, the city of Ottawa has honored and celebrated its favorite flower with the Canadian Tulip Festival. Canadians affix special meaning to the tulip, which symbolizes the strong friendship and bond forged between their country and the Netherlands during World War II.

As the world’s largest tulip festival, it’s no surprise you’ll find a lot of colorful tulips — more than 1 million in all! Other attractions of the 11-day festival include food markets, movie showings, ghost tours, and a sound and lights show.

Tesselaar Tulip Festival

Where: Silvan, Victoria, Australia
When: Sept. 14–Oct. 13

This festival is home to more than 40 nurseries and plant growers, so you’ll find an amazing mixture of both small and large flowers. It also showcases live entertainment, a multicultural food exhibition, and a sculpture display.

And when you leave, you may even be inspired to start your own garden. The festival hosts several interviews, discussions, and lectures with top growers from around the country on how to best care for a variety of flowers and plants, not just tulips. But what really sets this festival apart is that you can pick and purchase some of the flowers on display.

Srinagar Tulip Festival

Where: Kashmir, India
When: April 3–20

What started out as a way to boost tourism in a small town in 2007 quickly became a popular and cherished event at Asia’s largest tulip garden. With more than 60 varieties of tulips, visitors have said that it looks like the streets are lined with carpets rather than individual flowers. While you’re there, stop by the many folk dance performances that happen right in the streets. You can also enjoy the different Kashmiri cuisine that is prepared and sold locally.

Best tulip festivals in the U.S.

If you can’t travel to any one of the events outside the U.S., don’t worry. There are plenty of tulip festivals right here at home.

Pella Tulip Time

Where: Pella, Iowa
When: May 2–4

For three days every year, citizens of Pella travel back in time and wear traditional Dutch attire, eat Dutch food. and celebrate the history of the tulip. Why not join them in celebrating the 89th anniversary of this most colorful festival?! You can also watch as floats travel down the tulip-lined streets in the annual Parade of Tulips.

Albany Tulip Festival

Where: Albany, New York
When: May 11–12

New York City may be known as the concrete jungle, but it’s all flowers and greenery up in Albany! The Albany Tulip Festival is the city’s signature event in the spring, drawing thousands of people every year. In addition to the more than 100,000 tulips on display, the festival also features vendors selling their wares, an arts show, countless food options, the Kidzone, and two stages of dance and musical entertainment.

Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

Where: Skagit Valley, Washington
When: April 1–30

Since 1983, the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival has celebrated the spring and the many flowers that bloom during the season. More than 1 million visitors — from all 50 states and more than 85 countries — come every year for the month-long celebration. The festival doesn’t have one “site” but rather comprises fields of tulips and four tulip gardens scattered throughout the Skagit Valley. Attractions also include a street fair, a parade, art shows, and the Quilt Walk.

Tulip Time

Where: Holland, Michigan
When: May 4–12

Every spring, more than 6 million tulips explode out of the ground throughout this quaint town near the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. And soon after they do, Holland hosts Tulip Time, a celebration of tulips, Dutch heritage, and the local community. Dating back almost a century, this festival comprises eight days of shows and events, including Dutch dance performances, art showcases, tall ship tours, concerts, and even floral arranging workshops!

Valentine’s Fun Facts & History

The arrival of February is marked by several obvious signs. Store shelves overflow with heart-shaped candies. Everywhere you look, couples passionately embrace on street corners, as love fills the air. And nary a commercial goes by that doesn’t feature a stunning piece of jewelry.

February may be synonymous with a handful of events — there’s that big football game that is contested during the first week or two of the month — but none is more popular than Valentine’s (sorry, leap day). As the most romantic day of the year, our societal fixation on the day of love makes sense — after all, whose heart doesn’t beat a little faster when thinking about the one they adore?

valentines day facts with couple embracing with flowers

The jovial spirit and lovey-dovey passion of Valentine’s only account for a fraction of what there is to know about this holiday, however. The financial, historic, religious, and other factors that helped establish this day and continue to power it forward are captivating, and may even reshape your perception of Valentine’s.

Whether you are single and ready to mingle or happily coupled up, read on for some fascinating Valentine’s facts.

History of Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day has its roots in a man named Valentine. Or two men. Let’s explain.

One origin story tells of a third-century priest named Valentine who lived in Rome. The emperor at the time was Claudius II, who, hoping to make young men better soldiers, outlawed marriage. Valentine, recognizing the unfairness of this decree, secretly continued to marry youthful couples. When his defiance was discovered, he was put to death.

Another features a man named Valentine who was imprisoned and later killed for helping Christians escape captivity in the torturous Roman prisons. This Valentine penned the first Valentine’s card when, from jail and before his death, he sent his jailer’s daughter, who secretly brought him food, a love letter and signed it “From your Valentine,” thus beginning a tradition we embrace to this day.

Valentine’s facts by the numbers

The history of Valentine’s is one of myth and legend, but the modern-day numbers associated with the holiday are anything but — though they are no less unbelievable. While it comes as no surprise that people exchange a lot of gifts and spend an exorbitant amount of money on Valentine’s, the actual figures may just blow your mind.

Americans spent approximately $25.9 billion (yes, with a “B”) on Valentine’s-related purchases in 2023. That number is projected to be $25.8 billion in 2024.
The highest dollar category of Valentine’s spending is jewelry, which is expected to account for $6.4 billion in 2024.
Candy is the most popular Valentine’s gift, with 57% of participants planning to buy sweets in 2024.
Consumers expect to spend $185.81 each on average in 2024, nearly $8 more than the average Valentine’s spending over the past five years.
Americans purchase in the ballpark of 58 million pounds of chocolate for Valentine’s.
Not including classroom valentines, approximately 145 million Valentine’s cards are exchanged each year.

valentines day facts with valentines confections

Valentine’s facts on flowers

No Valentine’s is complete without flowers. Whether you are a traditionalist and always opt for a bouquet of red roses or a creative spirit who prefers a unique smattering of unconventional blooms, this is the perfect opportunity to express your personality and affection. No matter what floral route you embrace, one thing is certain — your crush will cherish your token of love.

Thirty-nine percent of people anticipated buying flowers for Valentine’s in 2024. The total spend on those flowers was expected to be $2.6 billion.
Men are far more likely to buy flowers or plants than women — 60% to 33%, respectively.
Roses are the most popular Valentine’s flower, with over 250 million produced exclusively for the holiday each year. Of those who planned to buy flowers for Valentine’s 2024, 70% said they’d be buying roses.

Best Valentine’s flowers

While roses dominate the top spot on the Valentine’s Day flower power rankings, many other beautiful blooms make superb gifts for your special someone. If you are looking for some of the best, most romantic blossoms for your loved one, here’s a roundup of some popular holiday picks.

Roses

Classic and elegant, roses are synonymous with love and Valentine’s. You cannot go wrong when you opt for roses as a gift on Feb. 14.

Irises

Alluring due to their unique shape and vibrant hues, irises are as distinct as the bond you share with your special valentine.

Lilies

With blossoms as grand as your love, lilies make wonderful Valentine’s gifts. Choose from several shades to find the ideal color to complement your other gifts and appeal to your better half.

Sunflowers

Valentine’s is the time to express all those sweet feelings you have toward your partner, and what better way to do that than with bright, showy sunflowers? After all, your love brings warmth and joy just like the sun!

Orchids

Unmistakable blossom structures are a hallmark of orchids, the 2023 Flower of the Year. Featuring distinctive color patterns, these fun flowers truly stand out from their petaled counterparts.

Tulips

Bright and inherently festive, tulips bring a lively pop of color to any occasion, especially one proclaiming love.

Daisies

Daisies, with their petals spread wide like they are waiting for an embrace, are both delicate and charming. Classic white blooms are most common, but you can grace your Valentine’s bouquet with a variety of colors.

Gardenias

Fragrant to the nose and exquisite to the eye, gardenia blooms, and their deeply rich accompanying foliage, can fill a room just as they fill a heart.

Lavender

Lavender is known for its alluring scent and healing properties, and it also has the benefit of being incredibly gorgeous.

Hydrangeas

Like giant puffs of joy, hydrangeas bloom in round groups, making them full and impressive. They also come in a wide variety of colors, giving you several ways to suit your valentine’s preferences.

10 Rose Color Meanings for Valentine’s Day

Millions of roses are sold every year on Valentine’s Day. And while there’s no denying most of us associate Feb. 14 with red roses and romantic love, Valentine’s Day is a celebration of all kinds of love. But if you think that means you can’t send a friend or family member Valentine’s Day roses to express how you feel about them on this day, you’re wrong — you just need to get them the appropriate color. It is a rose’s coloring, after all, that determines the meaning behind the gesture.

Whether you want to say “I love you,” “I’m grateful for you,” or “I think you’re special,” here are rose color meanings for 10 different shades of this timeless bloom.

Red rose color meaning

What they say: “I love you.”

If movies, TV shows, poems, and plays have taught us anything, it’s that red roses are the symbol of deep, passionate, romantic love. As the most popular flower sold on Valentine’s Day, giving someone a bouquet of red roses is a clear sign that you’ve caught the love bug.

Pale pink rose color meaning

What they say: “I appreciate you.”

A bouquet of light pink roses says “I appreciate everything you do for me.” The gentle nature of pale pink roses makes them the perfect gift for mothers, sisters, and close friends.

rose color meaning with bright pink roses

Bright pink rose color meaning

What they say: “I’m grateful you’re in my life.”

Deep pink roses make an excellent choice for close friends on Valentine’s Day, as they symbolize happiness, gratefulness, and appreciation.

Purple rose color meaning

What they say: “I always knew you were the one.”

If you and your loved one have a storybook, love-at-first-sight romance, then purple roses are the flowers for you. With ties to nobility and royalty, purple roses tell the one you love that she is the most important woman in your life, and your queen.

Blue rose color meaning

What they say: “You’re special and unique.”

Blue roses are incredibly rare because they’re engineered rather than grown naturally. For this reason, gifting someone blue roses tells them they’re unique, one of a kind, and truly special.

Yellow rose color meaning

What they say: “You’re a great friend.”

Tell your best friend that there’s no one else you’d rather have by your side than them with the help of a few yellow roses. Yellow roses’ sunny demeanor and positive attitude make the perfect gift for anyone you care about.

Orange rose color meaning

What they say: “I’m falling in love with you.”

If you’re looking to take your relationship with someone from friendship to romance, give them a hint with a bouquet of orange roses. With yellow roses representing friendship and red roses signifying love, orange roses are thought of as the bridge between the two.

White rose color meaning

What they say: “You’re the one for me.”

Ah, young love. If you think you’ve found the person for you but it’s still early in the relationship, send them a bouquet of elegant and classic white roses.

Black rose color meaning

What they say: This one is up for debate.

Black roses hold several, sometimes contradictory, meanings. While some believe black roses symbolize the end of a relationship, others find them unique and representative of passion and lust. Black roses have also been featured in stories as being closely related to black or dark magic.

While it’s hard to go wrong with sending roses, you may want to check with your partner before ordering black roses so they don’t get the wrong message.

Kaleidoscope rose color meaning

What they say: “You’re everything to me.”

Looking for a way to break from tradition while still remaining fun and passionate? Look no further than kaleidoscope roses! With a bit of every color in their petals, kaleidoscope roses tell your partner that they’re simultaneously your best friend and lover, appreciated and respected, and, most important, unique.

rose color meaning with kaleidoscope roses

7 Best Rose Festivals in the United States

No flower is more beloved or recognizable in the United States than the rose. After all, it’s our national floral emblem and the most common state flower, with Georgia, Iowa, New York, and North Dakota all claiming it as their own.

And the beauty of the rose is celebrated at festivals across the country throughout the spring and summer. So, if you are a fan of this timeless flower and want to get up close and personal to some of its finest examples, here are seven of our favorite U.S.-based rose festivals.

Rose Show & Festival

First held: 1922

Where: Thomasville, Georgia

Since 1922, the Rose Show & Festival has been a time-honored tradition in Southwest Georgia. In addition to the thousands of unique roses on display, visitors are entertained by live music and dancing, two parades, arts and crafts, and plenty of delicious food.

Portland Rose Festival

First held: 1907

Where: Portland, Oregon

Calling this a festival is somewhat of an understatement. The Portland Rose Festival is one of the largest rose celebrations in the United States, with four parades and dozens of events over the course of two weeks. And, if all that wasn’t impressive enough, it was twice named the “Best Festival in the World” by the International Festivals & Events Association, in 2007 and again in 2011.

State Center Rose Festival

First held: 1958

Where: Marshalltown, Iowa

Known as the “Rose Capitol of Iowa,” the small town of Marshalltown has been celebrating the rose since 1958 with its annual State Center Rose Festival. Each year, this quiet town is brought to life as thousands of people flock to The Grand Parade — a 100-float-long parade, featuring beautiful floral designs and costumes.

Elizabeth Park’s Rose Weekend

a photo of rose festivals with rose arches at elizabeth park — Rose arches at the Helen S. Kaman Rose Garden at *Elizabeth Park*. (Courtesy Elizabeth Park Conservancy)

First held: 1904

Where: West Hartford, Connecticut

With nearly three acres of garden space, Elizabeth Park, the nation’s oldest municipally operated rose garden, is home to more than 800 varieties of roses. As guests walk through the 15,000 rose bushes and arches, they’re treated to poetry readings, dance performances, and many other kid-friendly activities.

Jackson County Rose Festival

First held: 1958

Where: Jackson, Michigan

Known for its bountiful parks and rushing waterways, Jackson has been the home of the Jackson County Rose Festival since 1958, but its association with the rose goes back further than that. In 1931, the city chose the rose as its official flower and dubbed itself the Rose City. The annual Rose Parade is one of the largest parades in Michigan, with more than 100 floats entered each year.

Texas Rose Festival

First held: 1933

Where: Tyler, Texas

Mingle with Rose Royalty, attend the Queen’s Tea, tour the floral displays, and watch as parade floats travel past you at the Texas Rose Festival. For 84 years, the town of Tyler has celebrated the rose — a flower so popular in Texas that it made Tyler a prominent location in the North American rose industry.

Tombstone Rose Festival

First held: 1888

Where: Tombstone, Arizona

People flock to Tombstone every April to witness the blooming of the world’s largest rose tree, which is located in the courtyard of the Rose Tree Museum. Other highlights of the celebration include the crowning of the Rose Queen — which kicks off the festivities — a pancake breakfast, an old-fashioned box lunch auction, and the annual Rose Parade.

All About the Official Mother’s Day Flower: The Carnation

Since the day you were born, your mom has loved and supported you — not to mention cooked, cleaned, had a job, and drove you to all those extracurricular activities. Even when you might not have realized it (those teenage years, anyone?), your mom always had your best interest at heart.

That’s why each year we spend one day honoring all that our mothers have done for us. And if part of the celebration includes getting your mom a little something special, it should be a carnation — the official flower of Mother’s Day. The white carnation is said to symbolize motherhood and is used to both honor a mother who has passed away and celebrate a mother who is still living.

Here’s a brief history of how carnations became the symbol of motherhood.

official mothers day flower with a bouquet of flowers and text that says "happy mother's day".

A brief history of Mother’s Day

It’s believed the first celebrations honoring mothers were in ancient times, when Romans held festivals in honor of the mother goddesses Rhea and Cybele. But it wasn’t until Europe in the early 1800s that we saw the first semblance of modern Mother’s Day.

At the time, families in the UK and England celebrated “Mothering Sunday.” A day celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent, it encouraged people to travel back to their “mother church” — the first church they ever attended in their hometown — for a special service.

Over the years, Mothering Sunday transitioned into a more secular holiday, known as Mother’s Day, and was celebrated by kids giving their mothers flowers and other small gifts.

Who was Anna Jarvis?

Anna Jarvis is considered the founder of Mother’s Day in America. After her mother passed away, Jarvis vowed to create a day dedicated to honoring mothers both alive and deceased.

Why carnations are the official flower of Mother’s Day

As a young girl living in Philadelphia, Jarvis and her mother cared for a garden full of white carnations — her mother’s favorite flowers. In 1907, Anna delivered 500 white carnations to the church where her mother taught Sunday school. She then requested that each mother in the congregation receive one as they arrived at church that week.

Every year after that, the church upheld the tradition and continued to hand out carnations at their Mother’s Day service. Neighboring communities and churches soon took notice and began incorporating it into their own Mother’s Day services. In the mid-1940s, carnations were dubbed the official Mother’s Day flower. And now it’s even easier to deliver carnations right to Mom’s door!

Anna Jarvis once said that white carnations were the symbol of Mother’s Day because they were thought to “typify some of the virtues of motherhood: Whiteness stands for purity; its lasting qualities, faithfulness; its fragrance, love; its wide field of growth, charity; its form, beauty…”

Colorful carnations

Over time, different colored carnations began to take on their own meanings. Because of their history, fragrance, and “heavenly soft” texture, white carnations became popularly thought of as the flowers you left at the gravesite of a mother who had passed away. And even though white carnations originally became popular, red carnations are also considered the official Mother’s Day flower. However, red carnations are believed to be a gift for mothers who are still alive, as it was believed carnations’ deep red petals represented that of a beating heart and love rather than loss.

Care for the official Mother’s Day flower

If you plan on giving or receiving a bouquet of carnations, caring for them properly will ensure that they live a long, beautiful life. Here are some tips for caring for carnations.

Make sure they are placed on a windowsill or ledge that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight.
Be careful not to overwater them, as this can cause carnations to turn a musty, yellow color.
Never leave carnations near a radiator, oven, or another heat source. This will dry them out and cause them to die quickly.

A History of Tulips in Holland and the Dutch Trade

You’ll be hard-pressed to find someone from anywhere in the world who takes one look at a tulip and doesn’t instantly fall in love with it. But the country of Holland may just take the cake when it comes to crowning the country that’s most in love with tulips. Let us explain…

History of tulips in Holland

Tulips may not have originated in Holland, but that hasn’t stopped them from becoming one of Holland’s main exports and one of the things it’s most well-known for.

It was in the 16th century that tulips were imported to Holland from the Ottoman Empire (present-day Turkey). Just a few years after arriving in Holland, tulips became the most sought-after commodity in the entire Netherlands, after Carolus Clusius wrote what’s considered the first major book about the flower. At the time, tulip bulbs were worth more than gold and were sold for 10 times what a commoner made in a year. Needless to say, the time period was appropriately named “tulip mania.”

Though they certainly don’t outweigh gold anymore, the Netherlands is still one of the largest exporters of tulips in the world. Today, roughly 60% of the country’s land is used for agriculture or horticulture, with much of that land dedicated to growing bulbs. And it’s a good thing because in 2014 the Netherlands exported more than 2 billion tulips worldwide.

Holland, the “Flower Shop of the World”

With stats like these under their belt, it’s no wonder the Netherlands has been named the “Flower Shop of the World.”

Holland maintains 44% of the worldwide trade in floricultural products.
77% of all flower bulbs come out of the Netherlands, most of which are tulips.
Nearly 50% of their trade in 2015 was exclusively cut flowers and flower buds.
Of the roughly 1,800 new plant varieties that make their way into the European market every year, 65% of them come from the Netherlands.
Though they’re known for their bulbs, the Netherlands also trades seeds. In 2014, the Dutch exported $3.8 billion worth of flower seeds.

Keukenhof in Holland

While the Dutch certainly enjoy sharing Holland tulips with the rest of the world, they also make sure to keep enough for themselves. Each year, usually at the end of March, Keukenhof holds more than 800 different varieties of tulips and a total of 7 million bulbs. Needless to say, it has been called the most beautiful spring garden in the world. And if the thousands of rows of flowers weren’t good enough, there’s usually also a petting zoo, playground, and maze to keep children and families entertained for hours.

Can’t make your way to Holland? There are plenty of incredible tulip festivals across the world to experience as we grow closer to spring.

Fun Facts About Easter

“Celebration Inspiration” is all about bringing you top-notch advice and creative ideas to make the most of life’s special moments. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday or going all out for a holiday, learn interesting Easter facts.

The most important Christian holiday of the year, Easter marks Jesus’ resurrection and appropriately coincides with the arrival of spring, the season of rebirth. The holiday is a time to celebrate fundamental beliefs and the change of seasons.

Countless traditions commemorate the Easter season, from decorating and hiding eggs to filling baskets with chocolate bunnies. It’s also a good time to revisit your decor — and fill your home with the flowers and colors of spring — in advance of the traditional Easter dinner.

Frequently asked questions about Easter

When is Easter and how is the date determined?

In 2024, Easter is on Sunday, March 31. The date changes every year because the holiday falls on the first Sunday after spring’s first full moon. In 2025, Easter is on April 20.

Easter takes place after the 40-day period of Lent, a time when people typically fast during the day or give up something they enjoy. The week before Easter is considered “Holy Week.” Palm Sunday takes place exactly a week before Easter, followed by Good Friday, and then Easter Sunday.

How did the Easter bunny come about?

The first story about a rabbit coming to your backyard in early spring and leaving eggs in the garden was published in Germany in 1680. The Easter bunny was introduced to the Americas in the late 17th century by Christian German immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania. They told their children stories about the Oschter Haws (or Osterhase), a hare from German folklore that gave colorful eggs to well-behaved children on Easter. The character evolved into the Easter Bunny.

What is the flower of Easter?

Easter lilies are the official flower of Easter and symbolize the resurrection of Christ. It’s also believed that the large, white flowers described in the Bible as growing quickly throughout Palestine were lilies.

How much do Americans spend on Easter baskets and Easter candy?

Americans spent $24 billion on Easter in 2023. Of that total, $3.3 billion went toward candy — besting the $3.1 billion spent on candy for Halloween, making Easter the biggest candy holiday on the calendar.

Households that assemble their own Easter baskets spend nearly $80 on average on all the necessities, including gifts, candy, decorations, and greeting cards.

What’s the best way to eat a chocolate Easter bunny?

A WalletHub study found that 78% of Americans think you should start eating a chocolate bunny at the ears. But watch out for your teeth: One of the main reasons for the hollow inside is so that people don’t hurt their jaw or crack a tooth.

What’s the largest chocolate Easter bunny and Easter egg?

In 2017, the world’s largest chocolate bunny was created in Brazil — it weighed an astonishing 9,359 pounds and stood nearly 15 feet tall. The tallest Easter egg ever created weighed 15,000 pounds and was 33 feet tall.

What’s the story behind Easter eggs?

Spring is often used to represent new life and birth, while eggs have long symbolized fertility. Given the time Easter occurs and the religious meaning behind it, eggs quickly became a popular Easter symbol.

Besides candy, what are other Easter food traditions?

Before chocolate cornered the Easter food market, pretzels were eaten and exchanged as gifts. During the week leading to Easter, it’s estimated that Americans eat around 16 million jelly beans. Traditional Easter Sunday dinner foods include ham, cut pineapple, lamb, string beans, glazed carrots, deviled eggs, hot cross buns, lemon bars, babka, and carrot cake.

What’s an Easter egg roll and when did the tradition start at the White House?

In an egg roll, children roll an egg through the grass with a long-handled spoon. The activity dates back hundreds of years and may have originated to symbolize the rolling away of the rock from Jesus’ tomb after his crucifixion.

The White House’s annual Easter Egg Roll began in 1878 during the Hayes administration. Children and their families are invited to the president’s home for egg hunting, rolling, and other festivities. It takes place the Monday after Easter Sunday.

The Meaning Behind Each Tulip Color

From tulips to chrysanthemums, our series “The Language of Flowers” explores everything from flower care tips to flower symbolism and meaning. In this article, we look at the meaning of tulip colors.

You probably know about the language of love, but have you heard of the language of flowers? Because tulips bloom in the spring, they are commonly used to represent new life and warmth, but every color also carries its own significance and interesting superstitions.

Learn more about tulip color meaning so the next time you give someone one of these wonderfully colored flowers, you’ll be sure you’re conveying exactly the message you’re intending.

Red tulips

Red tulips are a favorite among the romantic type. Their deep red hues evoke feelings of passion, love, and lust — making them an especially popular choice for new, younger couples. They can also mean “believe me” or “my feelings are true.” So, the next time you’re trying to woo the person you admire, send them an alluring bouquet of red tulips.

Orange tulips

Orange tulips are used to convey a sense of understanding and appreciation between two people, usually in a relationship. A bouquet of orange tulips can mean that you feel both physically and spiritually connected to someone.

Yellow tulips

Years ago, yellow flowers were said to represent hopeless love and jealousy. But in recent years, the color has been associated with much brighter meanings. Yellow tulips now represent happiness, cheerfulness, and hope. Victorians even believed yellow tulips literally meant “There’s sunshine in your smile.” It’s for this reason that yellow tulips have become popular “just because” gifts, as they are sure to bring a smile to anyone’s face. And if you’re looking to add a bit of luck to your home, it’s believed that planting yellow tulips in your front yard will bring good luck and prosperity.

Purple tulips

Because purple dye was originally wildly expensive and revered, only the very wealthy could afford to wear fabrics made from that color. In fact, in the 1500s, Queen Elizabeth I actually forbade everyone except members of the royal family from wearing purple. Though purple is now a beloved and popular color, it remains a symbol of royalty and elegance.

White tulips

White tulips are a great way to say “I’m sorry” or “My condolences” and are a popular flower for funeral services. They also represent purity, honor, and holiness, making them a beloved gift for someone celebrating a religious milestone, such as a communion, baptism, or bar mitzvah. Superstition also has it that those who dream about white tulips are about to experience a fresh start or new beginning in life.

Pink tulips

tulip color meaning with pink sprouted tulips

Nothing says “Congratulations” like a big bouquet of beautiful pink tulips. Whether you’re celebrating a job promotion, the birth of a new baby, or college graduation, pink tulips send good luck and well wishes to anyone receiving them.

Blue tulips

The man, the myth, the legend — yup, we’re talking about blue tulips! What makes tulips truly unique is that they are one of the few flowers that come in virtually every color. But, surprisingly, “true blue” is one of the few colors that has remained absent from tulip’s impressive color palette. Recently, a couple of clever plant breeders were able to create some of the first blue tulips. Because they are one of a kind, blue tulips represent individuality and uniqueness.