The summer exhibition is about the flower as a symbol and as an attractive décor.

It was in the Orient that flowers were first worshipped, portrayed and described.
In classical Greece and Rome, several thousand years before Christ’s birth, flowers were commercially cultivated and there was a widespread interest for floral research.
The Crusades (1096-1291) resulted in the Christian Europe coming into contact with the eastern gardens.

The discovery of America 1492 was of great importance for our European garden plots, the amount of rare plants increased. New and exotic contributions to bouquets and in floral patterns arrived thanks to the newly discovered continents.

Flowers that have been admired have changed from century to century. In the Egyptian empire the lotus flower was the most holy of all flowers. The earliest portrayal of the rose we know was found in King Minos palace dated to 1600 B.C. The beautiful Sapfo (approx., 600 B.C.), a Greek poetess, appointed the rose to “ Queen of all flowers.”
During early Christian times the rose symbolized the Virgin Mary while the red rose symbolized Christ’s blood. If one is aware of ancient flowers symbolism it is easier to interpret art and applied arts.

In the monasteries enclosure herb and medicinal plants were grown. Flowers were studied; one collected them in herbariums and gave out lavish volumes with exquisite illustrations.
   During the 17th century a tulip bulb could cost as much as a whole house. It was cheaper to let one of the times foremost flower artist paint a bouquet than to buy one!

The first florist’s opened in Paris during the 1830s. It was also there that the first books with “the language of flowers” were published. Since then a great many volumes with the flowers silent language have been published. It was important to know which flower one should choose for one’s sweetheart!
   Flowers follow us throughout life’s different phases. The flower symbolizes renewal; it is a delight to the eye, for pleasure and happiness.