"Martin Mazorra: Language of Flowers" at O2 Gallery

That whole language-of-the-flowers thing was a hoot, wasn't it, back in ye olde Victorian times?

Floriography, they called it. People of swell society sending each other bouquets of flowers, exchanging those little nosegays to wear upon their finest raiment, whereby folks in the know would get the messages intended. An arrangement predicated on the flower tansy, for instance, meant, "I declare war against you," but of course most of the myriad floral patternings were declarations of romantic love.

You know what else they used to do back in ye olde days? Woodcuts are what they used to do, long before linoleum was a thing. They say you could always tell a woodcut artist by the learning-curve scars still texturing their masterful hands (if not by the errant ink stains complicating a trade-specific apron).

The Brooklyn-based artist Martin Mazorra is not so old as all that – born in West Virginia in 1972, after all – but his woodcut creations and letterpress renderings are as solidly crafted and visually stunning as anything those old masters used to do with their knives and pigments and papers. And now Mazorra's large "Language of Flowers" collection is on display at Flatbed Gallery, and we're swooning like a lovesick swain from having witnessed them firsthand.

The long O2 Gallery walls are resplendent with multicolored handmade prints of Mazorra's floral works, accompanied by the artist's carefully set text that declares each flower's meaning and sometimes – this is so good – includes a bit of modern meta-commentary, a touch of snark among the wide-ranging suite of images.

"Flowers would say or emphasize what could not be spoken out loud," notes Mazorra. "I have added contemporary, solicitous twists to this tradition."

But really, it's the visuals here – the woodcut art itself, the varied vegetal world in all its vibrant profusion, and the colorful, expert printing on oversized French paper – that make this show a must-see. Which is still possible even now, because "Language of Flowers" is up at the Flatbed Gallery until Dec. 31, and so we'll pretend that this whole review is a bouquet of snowdrops we're sending your way. Because that, dear reader, means "joy to come."

Flower business blooming

SARAH TILL has gone from finance to flowers and is loving every bit of her flourishing business My Flower Cart.

From the south-east in England, Sarah worked in finance where she met her Kiwi husband.

Eight years ago they decided they wanted to raise their two children in New Zealand and chose Hawke's Bay to settle. Today the flower farmer florist works fulltime in her cutting garden growing and selling a range of beautiful, fresh, seasonal flowers from September to April.

"I have been growing flowers forever," Sarah said.

 "About three years ago I read a book by Sarah Raven and started to recreate her plan. We are completely organic and lease part of our 20 acres to Bostock who are of course also organic. We also have a fig block, selling the fruit to Te Mata Figs."

Sarah started selling her flowers in a cart outside the gate - hence the name.

However, she had a lot of theft and decided to approach a florist.

"I love cottage flowers and wild flowers. They are flowers with personality and the majority of them are perfect cutting flowers. They used to be popular in the 70s and have made a huge comeback in recent time. Some of the florists I deal with say they can't keep up with demand.

"They last well in a vase if they are cut at the right time. My flowers are cut one day and sold the next, so they are really fresh.

"I am really keen on sustainable flowers. I save seeds, and feed my flowers with comfrey tea and blood and bone. We are lucky here with good loamy soil."

She says people tend to think of buying flowers as a treat. "But it's so nice to go along to the market, get your veges, fruit, coffee and some affordable flowers.

"Growing flowers has also become more popular just as growing your own vegetables has. Easy flowers to grow that are great for picking are zinnia, sweet william, snap dragon and you can't go past nigella. Or throw a packet of wildflower seeds into your garden - there is always something interesting in them. Plant blue flowers to attract the bees."

Everything she sells is grown in her field and Sarah likes to make her posies and arrangements interesting by adding pods and seeds.

It was absolutely lovely walking thorough her beautiful garden. "Everything in it has a use, whether it be beautiful autumn colour, nuts or fruit and there is a beautiful view of Te Mata Peak."

The dahlia walk is Sarah's favourite spot in the garden.

"I love dahlias - they are just stunning."

She estimates she spends three hours a day in the garden and the rest of the day making up and delivering her flowers with some time spent on administration.

She says there's a science to picking your flowers and each flower is different but her top tip would be to pick first thing in the morning or last thing at night.

"Don't pick in the heat of the day. Put your flowers into a big bucket of water and let them drink before you arrange them. My flowers do come with flower food for your vase but I think the best way to make flowers last is to change the water every day and cut a little bit off the stem. Bacteria in the water clogs up the stem and then they can't drink. If they can drink they can survive."

Because Sarah can't bear to waste any flowers they invariably end up around her home. "My husband jokes that it's like living in Elton John's house! I actually couldn't do this business without him and his muscles and his sense of humour."

The top wedding flowers for every season and why

When you think of weddings, you also think of flowers. Flowers are a huge part of any wedding. From traditional to boho, to even elopements, flowers play a significant role in wedding décor and traditions.

Flowers were traditionally used in weddings to symbol hope, fertility, and new life, as well as to ward off evil spirits. Now, we use flowers in weddings to act as centerpieces, as bridal bouquets, as arbor swags, and more.

Choosing the right flowers to compliment your wedding is something many brides stress over. From color, to shape, to cost, your wedding flowers are going to be a massive part of your décor and budget.

Here are some of the most popular flowers for a wedding by type and season:

1. Roses

Roses are an absolute classic, but many brides think of them as being overdone! JJ’s House designer of wedding dresses and flower girl dresses, Jessica says: “there are tons of different roses to choose from, vintage roses look especially beautiful at weddings because of their lush, romantic look.” They work year-round and are available in every color you can think of.

2. Camelias

Lovely camellias are perfect for late winter to early spring, and in fall. They’re multi-petalled with a mild, sweet scent and come in warm wedding colors like white, cream, pink, and red.

3. Ranunculus

This relative of the humble buttercup is an excellent choice for winter weddings and is a perfect option for a cost-effective alternative to roses or peonies. Lush and brightly colored, they work exceptionally well in a crown of flowers.

4. Hydrangeas

Bold and summery, hydrangeas massive blooms are the perfect accompaniment to a summer wedding. They come in warm whites, greens, pinks, burgundy, purples, and blues and their large size makes them ideal for garlands, swags, and table runners.

5. Cosmos

The daisy-like Cosmos are glorious for a mid-summer to an early fall wedding. These playful flowers are gorgeous in pale and dark pinks and work perfectly for your flower girl bouquets, making the colors pop against the white flower girl dresses.

6. Carnations

Don’t turn up your nose at the humble carnation! These affordable, year-round flowers are a perfect way to add more blooms to your floral décor without wrecking the budget. Look for carnations in white to bulk up bouquets, or to add pops of saturated color.

7. Dahlia

The bold Dahlia is a go-to flower for summer and fall weddings. With its signature spicy scent and rich, fall-friendly colors, dahlias are a perfect way to add drama to your floral arrangements.

8. French tulips

The graceful French tulip is different from the traditional Dutch tulip in length, and the large, tapered heads. More expensive than Dutch tulips, French tulips look beautiful in cream, soft pink, and yellow and work well for centerpieces. They are an elegant addition to any winter wedding.

9. Gerbera daisies

The Gerbera daisy is so bright and fun, it doesn’t look real. With an insane range of shades (over 300, in fact) the Gerbera daisy is perfect year-round and works especially well for fun, boho weddings and for flower girl bouquets.

10. Lisianthus

The elegant, cupper Lisianthus bloom is an excellent secondary flower for your bouquet. It comes in a wide range of shades, is available year-round, and is very affordable.

Are Flowers Good For Your Health? The Mood Boosting Benefits Are Pretty Great, Study Shows

For as long as I can remember, my mom has loved cultivating a large garden of herbs and flowers. "Gardening is my therapy," she always told me. And while, for a long time, I dismissed that as her excuse to visit Home Depot on a weekly basis, once I moved into a place of my own, the urge to nurture plants took hold of me, too. So are flowers really good for your health? Apparently, my mom had science on her side, so if you're wondering what in carnation will help soothe your frazzled nerves, look no further than a vase full of fresh flowers.

According to a new study from a research team at the University of North Florida, the benefits of bringing plants into your home are basically too good to pass up, even if you think you don't have that coveted "green thumb." Here's how the study was done: According to an AboutFlowers.com press release, researchers gathered 170 women between 18 and 65 years old and divided them into three groups. In one group, women were sent a home delivery of flowers; in the second group, the women received a candle of roughly the same value; and in the last group, the women didn't receive any gifts at all. The study took place over the course of 12 days, and each of the women, regardless of what gifts they did or didn't receive, completed an online survey to assess their stress levels every day of the research. For the women who received flowers or a candle, the delivery was sent to their home about halfway through the study, around day five or six, according to the press release.

At the end of the study, the researchers found that those who received flowers overwhelmingly reported that the blooms boosted their mood, while stress levels appeared to remain a bit higher for those who had received a candle or no home delivery at all. Basically, the simple act of bringing a bouquet into your home is enough to significantly boost your mood. "Our findings are important from a public health perspective because adding flowers to reduce stress does not require tremendous effort to generate a meaningful effect,” lead researcher Erin Largo-Wight, Ph.D., an associate professor at the University of North Florida’s Department of Public Health, said in a statement. “When life seems to be in a constant state of frenzy, flowers can provide us with a much-needed moment of calm.”

While this particular study comes from the Society of American Florists, an entire garden (see what I did there?) of research seems to support the nurturing health benefits of flowers, so get ready to fill your apartment with fresh green blossoms. The thing is, unlike more time-consuming ways to relieve stress, like going on long runs or writing in a journal, picking up a fresh bouquet of flowers is something quick and easy you can do for yourself when you're having a bad day.

And really, the sheer act of spending time around these plants may be enough to reap the benefits: In a 2014 study published in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology, researchers found that office workers who were exposed to unscented roses for only four minutes showed a decreased heart rate and reported significantly higher levels of relaxation than those who weren't exposed to any flowers at all. Simply being around a vase of the fragrant blooms while you're enjoying a cup of tea, catching up on your favorite show, or even doing the dishes can have seriously positive effects on your state of mind.

Now, I know it can be tempting to save money by filling your apartment with artificial flowers, but unfortunately, it seems like only the real thing will do the trick in terms of boosting your mood. A 2015 study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health compared the effects of artificial and real pansies in a group of 40 high school students in Japan, and the researchers found that being exposed to the real flowers was the only way to produce a significantly relaxing effect in the participants.

Look, I'm no scientist, but it definitely seems like there's something about sharing your space with another living thing that's just plain great for your well-being. So the next time you walk by the flower display while you're shopping for groceries, treat yourself to a sunny bouquet. After all, it's for your health, right?

When I was in high school, after any school dance or any event that required a corsage, my mom would always try to convince me to save the flowers and press them in a telephone book using parchment paper. According to her, I would want them later. At the time, I couldn't quite figure out what I would possibly need those pressed flowers for, but after seeing the dried flower nails trend up and down my Instagram feed, I now know how I could've used the petals from all of those corsages.

OK, well, while I no longer have a telephone book (shoutout to Google) or those old, dried-out blooms from my high school years, I am willing to dry out old flowers from the corner bodega in the name of this latest trendy nail look. More importantly, my mother will be thrilled to learn that her obsession with keeping old flowers is now being repositioned as a beauty trend.

Essentially, the dried nail trend involves taking teeny tiny dried out flowers and adhering them onto the nail as nail art. By the looks of it, petals from the carnations and roses from all of those homecomings, proms, and winter formals might actually be too large to recreate the dried flower nails look. Instead, the trend incorporates literally the smallest little flowers you can imagine.