31 Days. 31 Flowers. Teaching kids about the Petunia…

The PETUNIA – The lovely, colorful trumpet-shaped Petunia has a rather interesting origin, being botanically related to the family Solanaceae of tobacco, tomato and potato fame.  Solanaceae derives from the Latin solari, meaning to soothe, so it is not surprising that the most lovely symbol of the Petunia is its soothing-ness.

(On the contrary side, the Petunia has also gained the rather unpleasant symbols of anger, haughtiness and resentment, making it important to wisely choose the recipients of your Petunia. Personally, I’m going with the Petunia’s soothing symbol.)

Native to South America, the first species of the Petunia arrived in Paris, France in 1823.  The word Petunia was developed from the word petun, meaning tobacco.

The Petunia is hardy and sometimes develops a weedy habit in a garden, but its glorious colors (pinks, whites, reds, yellows, purples), sizes and ability to produce lovely color combinations add to its great popularity.  The center of the Petunia is thought to resemble a star.

One interesting tidbit regarding the Petunia is its dream quality.  If you dream about the Petunia, you will be successful both at work and in society.  It’s certainly worth a try to work a Petunia or two into your zzzzzzzzz’s!

And what could be more dreamy than the 49th Annual Dixon Petunia Festival in Dixon, Illinois, Jul7 3 – 7, 2013!?  The town of Dixon is both nationally and state honored as the State of Illinois official Petunia City. Read all about the town’s history with the Petunia here!

Get outside with your kids today and discover the beauty, the colors, the secrets and the dreams of the lovely Petunia.  Marvel at its trumpet-shape.  Tell of its symbols… most especially the soothing one.  Tell of Petunia City and follow the Petunia Festival festivities on-line.  Bring words and flowers and into your lives, enriching your kids with great fun and learning and literacy.

Share 20th century American artist Georgia O’Keefe’s Petunias (1925) – And don’t forget to dream of the Petunia tonight!