With the arrival of summer comes graduation season, as those who have completed their university degrees prepare to don their caps and gowns in front of their peers, family and friends.
The culmination of years of hard work and determination, graduation is a ceremony that is shrouded in tradition, and is a major rite of passage in any young person’s life. For many, it’s their final foray in education, as they prepare to enter the world of work for the first time as fully-fledged adults. It can be an emotional time, as students say goodbye to one way of life and replace it for another, leaving behind classmates and professors. Many see it as an opportunity to move back home for a while to find their feet, or to take a job in a new city, or to go travelling around the world. One thing is certain, it’s a time of incredible flux, excitement and anxiety.
When it comes to choosing a gift for a graduation, flowers are always a good option. After all, they have long been associated with celebrations, particularly milestones. Nothing says, “congratulations” or “I’m proud of you”, quite so well as a bunch of thoughtfully chosen blooms – it’s why we give them for engagements, weddings, birthdays and new babies. But when it comes to choosing which flowers are the best for the graduate in your life, there are a few things to consider.
Firstly, flowers each symbolise something different, so it’s always nice to think about what you want to say specifically with your gift, from joy to growth, optimism to hard work. There’s a flower for each of those sentiments. Or you might choose something that will continue to bloom after the event itself, such as an orchid, which you can re-pot. Something else to consider would be how long they will last, and if you want to combine several different varieties each with its own meaning into one bouquet.
Another nice touch? Considering the colours of the university if it has them, such as Cambridge blue and Durham purple, and selecting a bouquet accordingly to match or compliment them. You could also ask about what they plan to wear underneath their cap and gown and pick something that works with that too, as it would be nice to have photographs both in and out of the official graduate outfit as a keepsake. Afterwards, you could even suggest that they have their flowers pressed to keep as an artwork and reminder of their achievement too.
Flowers really do make the most thoughtful gifts, with the photographs and keepsakes you can create from them lasting a lifetime.
Lilies
Symbolising renewal and rebirth, lilies are the perfect flower to give at graduation as they represent entering a new chapter of life. According to myth, the Greek god Zeus tricked his wife Hera into feeding his son Hercules her milk, and when she found out, the milk droplets that fell to the earth turned into lilies – it’s because of this story that the lily is now seen as a sign of rebirth.
Available in several varieties and hues, lilies bloom from early spring through to late summer depending on which you buy, so there will always be one in season no matter what date graduation is. While white lilies are the most well-known, you can also find yellow, orange and pink.
Roses
Romanticise graduation day with the most famous symbol of love – the rose. A great choice for anyone who wants to really spoil their family member or friend on their big day, roses are always a welcomed and cherished gift thanks to their deep meaning. What’s more, roses are available in a huge spectrum of beautiful shades, from deep red to pastel pink, fiery orange to pure white, which means that you can easily match a bouquet to the graduate’s university colours or outfit. A classic gift, they are the go-to choice for anyone who is perhaps a little unsure about what flowers might be best, and you truly can’t go wrong with them.
Tulips
Few flowers are as associated with the season of spring as the tulip, which immediately conjures up visions of a positive and exciting new start in life – something that is perfect for a graduation gift. Of course, as befits a bloom emblematic of spring, they typically flower earlier in the year, but it is possible to still get some varieties in early summer – so if graduation is in early June, you’re in luck!
Beloved for their vibrant array of hues, tulips look especially beautiful when they are mixed and matched together to create a rainbow bouquet, making them particularly appealing for photographs and press flower artwork memorabilia.
Sunflowers
Nothing feels more positive than a sunflower, whose very name makes you think of warm summer days. At the peak of their powers in July and August, they are a wonderful choice for a late graduation, and are guaranteed to inspire joy in the receiver. Sunflowers symbolise unwavering loyalty and optimism, thanks to their tendency to rotate to follow the run, and as such are the ideal gift for a proud parent to give to their graduating child.
Hydrangeas
In floristry, hydrangeas have traditionally been seen to symbolise gratitude and heartfelt emotion. They also make quite a big visual impact, with their large heads and multitude of petals, which means that they are incredibly effective as celebration flowers. Each colour can represent something different too, with blue meaning gratitude, pink conveying love, and purple symbolic of admiration. They are in peak season in the summer, and will also last a long time in a vase afterwards too, making them another great choice.
Carnations
Another long-lasting choice is the carnation. Closely associated with Mother’s Day in the US, the pink variety is the most well-known, but there are also other hues you can pick from too, including red and blue. They’re a particularly good choice if someone is graduating from Oxford, as there is a tradition there of wearing a different coloured carnation in your button hole depending on which exam you are taking. A word of caution though: don’t choose yellow, as traditionally these are associated with loss, and are even seen at funerals. Not the message you want to send on graduation day!
Orchids
Orchids are known to symbolise luxury, prosperity and strength, thanks in large part to how delicate they are considered to be, requiring thoughtful care. As well as being incredibly beautiful to look at, with their characteristic symmetrical petals, they are also a great option for anyone who wants something that will last for a long time.
Contrary to popular belief, they aren’t as difficult to look after as you might think either – just avoid over-watering, and they will be fine. Every time the graduate in your life looks at them, they will be reminded of your pride and belief in them and their future success.
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