Every month staff of The Northwood Omniscient recommends something for students and staff. For the month of May, staff members discussed their favorite flowers. Continue reading to find a new favorite flower!
Foxglove
Foxglove flowers are the perfect combination of structural beauty and vibrant colors. The flowers have rich purple and pink hues highlighted with smooth whites and creams. The flowers can grow up to six feet and are the perfect addition to any dull yard area, adding vibrancy and detail. Foxgloves grow best in rich and well drained areas like the North Carolina mountains. Some of my favorite foxglove arrangements are found in Brevard, North Carolina.
-Co-Editor Ella Sullivan
Oleander
If Rambo was a flower, he would be an Oleander. Every part of the Oleander, from the petals to the stem, is fatally toxic. Not many flowers would win in a fight against “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, but I have faith that the Oleander could. In addition to being incredibly dangerous, Oleander flowers are also known to be very pretty, this prompts unknowing travelers to pick them and get deathly ill. Oleander flowers can be found across South Asia, Northwest Africa, and parts of China.
-Graphic Editor Ethan Westmoreland
Plumeria
Although primarily native to tropical regions, plumerias—also known as frangipani—are sweet-smelling, aesthetically-pleasing flowers that you are bound to fall in love with. Plumerias have typically been used in Hawaiian leis—yes, that’s where you remember seeing them—and are commonly associated with birth and love. The delicate flowers can be found in a variety of colors, ranging from shades of pink, white, yellow, crimson, and occasionally orange. The classic white and yellow plumeria is the most recognizable; additionally, it has the longest lifespan and strongest scent out of the several different variations. Due to their festive beauty and positive symbolism, you won’t be surprised when you see plumerias make the list of the most beautiful flowers in the world time and time again.
-Staff Writer Olivia McMurray
Poppy
Poppies can be seen from far away because of their various vibrant hues. Poppies bloom from spring to early summer and feature colors from white to deep purple. They are native to Asia, Europe and North Africa. Papaver somniferum, one species of poppy, is the source of the narcotic drug opium, morphine, and heroin. Poppies are often worn as a sign of remembrance of fallen soldiers during wartime after the trench warfare in the poppy fields of Flanders, Belgium during World War I. These flowers can be found near Claremont, North Carolina and throughout the state.
-Staff Writer Loren King
Wisteria
If you’ve ever driven around Chatham County in the spring, you’ve probably encountered the sweet smelling vine, Wisteria. Wisteria is most known for its purple flowers, however, other shades include pink, white and blue. Although they’re enchanting, beware–ingestion of any part of the plant can be toxic to pets, livestock and humans. These fast growing and long living vines often reach lengths of 30 feet or more, and are best suited for man-made structures, as they can sometimes damage tree health and serve as an invasive species. Wisteria can be found in parts of Asia and the southeastern United States.
-Staff Writer Revy Godehn
Dogwood
As the flower of the state we live in (and Virginia), the flowering dogwood is plentiful in the spring. Blooming most commonly in shades of pink and white, these beautiful trees symbolize rebirth and endurance. The full bloom of the trees tend to last about 3-4 weeks at most, and thankfully are not toxic to any canine friends. Dogwoods stand up to 25 feet tall, can have 20 feet long branches, and are native to the eastern US.
-Staff Writer Hannah Barnes
Tulip
Planted in the autumn, tulips sprout from the ground in all their enchanting hues, starkly contrasting green stems and rounded conical shapes by May. But the intrigue of the tulip does not stop at its surface. In the 1600s, the flower’s bulbs were used as currency, developing the tulip futures market in which the price of the plant would rise and fall overnight. Since the year 1634 in Holland where a bulb would sell for six times a person’s salary, tulips have developed into a common garden plant and can be easily spotted in many yards across Chatham County. Those who can appreciate the beauty of history, or simply the beauty of flowers, will love the tulip.
-Staff Writer Gianna Cacciato
Lily
It may seem a bit on the nose for my favorite flower to be the one I was named after, but there is truly no other flower I could choose other than the lily. Bold, bright and beautiful, lilies are unmatched in their colors and patterns. With over 90 species to choose from, from the orange speckles of the tiger lily to the unique ombre of the ‘Forever Susan’ lily, there is a different lily to appeal to everyone. You might think a flower this beautiful requires a lot of effort, but lilies are actually quite easy to grow. Lilies can be found all throughout the Northern Hemisphere and would make wonderful additions to your backyard.
-Staff Writer Lily Kate Witcher
Sunflower
Sunflowers symbolize loyalty, long life, and adoration. There are over 70 species of this flower and a majority of them come from the Americas. Although the average height of these flowers range from one to 14 feet tall, the tallest sunflower is 30 feet and located in Germany. At the top of the stem is the actual flower, and in the dark center are sunflower seeds that humans can actually consume as a snack. Surrounding the seeds are yellow petals called “rays,” that face the direction of the sun. This process is also known as phototropism. These petals can come in a range of colors besides the classic yellow, including different shades of orange and red. You can visit a sunflower field near your area to gaze at the beautiful flowers, and maybe even pick one if allowed!
-Staff Writer Nellie Errett
Graphics by Ethan Westmoreland.
