Ranunculus :

To carry these flowers is to tell your partner, “I am dazzled by your charms.”

The Little Frogs
In Latin, ranunculus means “little frog,” but that quirky tag belies the profound exquisiteness of this bloom, which boasts colors as varied as white, yellow – gold, bronze, orange, scarlet, and a green that’s close to emerald. That yummy spectrum, along with a moderate price and a sturdiness that maintains its good looks though even the longest event, make ranunculus a justifiable popular bouquet choice. And like many flowers, they can assume whatever posture an arrangement and treatment demand, from casual to formal.

Truth be told, ranunculus begins life as a rather ugly bulb. But from that brown, wrinkled kernel springs a magnificent, versatile flower that dons a striking number of guises : The pale California ranunculus opens to reveal a pas de trois of white petals encircling a black ring that surrounds a white center; the deep red ranunculus, on the other hand, sports an eccentric, variegated center that looks like a parrot tulip.

Like tulips, ranunculus are reasonable priced, but off – season – after early summer – costs escalate according to declining availability. When you buy them, examine the stems – again , like tulips – to be sure they’re firm and a rich green; a spongy, pallid stem is a red flag. Unlike tulips, however, avoid tight, unopened blossoms that may never open. Opt instead for half – open blooms. (A healthy cut tulip, on the other hand, rarely stays closed.)

As for the source of the “little frog” sobriquet, there are two theories. The first is a twist on the fairy tale frog that becomes a prince. In this version, after the frog’s transformation into a dreadfully handsome prince, he strolled the countryside serenading nymphs with his enchanting voice. Unfortunately, that was about all the love he could muster since, alas, the poor boy was too shy to bust a move. Unable to fess up to his feelings, he eventually pined away and was turned into the flower that bears his name. The second theory refers to the resemblance of wild ranunculus petals to a frog’s foot.

Let’s go with theory number one, shall we?