Before the calendar has even reached the new season, spring flowers like ranunculus, hyacinth and daffodil are already peeping around the corner.

Spring is the season for renewal as the days become longer, the evenings a little lighter and new colourful, flower varieties begin to make their way into our homes, garden and floral creations. After a long winter, the array of colour and scent is a refreshing change and a very welcome one at that!

In celebration of the fragrant explosion of colour and scent, we have compiled our top 5 favourite spring flowers to share with you.

Daffodil As an early spring flower they symbolise new beginnings and rebirth. Bright yellow is the best known daffodil colour but there are also gorgeous combinations of white and pink. One thing they have in common; they all celebrate spring in an exuberant way. Meaning: The gift of daffodils means 'you are the only one' and is believed to bring happiness. Origin: These beautiful trumpet shaped flowers grow naturally in meadows, woods and on rocky grounds in Western Europe.

Tulip The pretty tulip comes in white, red, yellow, pink, purple, orange, green or with multi-coloured petals. Cherished for their brightly colored, cup-shaped flowers, they are a classic and eye catching flower. You can find them with a single or double row of petals, whilst there are also fringed and parrot tulips with serrated petals, and there’s the playful lily-flowered tulip. In fact there are 3,000 varieties of tulips, that belong to 14 main groups! Meaning: The tulip is said to mean 'perfect love'. Origin: Tulips can be found growing wild from north Africa and southern Europe across to north-west China.

"Spring is the time of plans and projects" -Leo Tolstoy-

"I must have flowers, always, always" -Monet-

Hyacinth Hyacinth is a very beautiful flower that is best known for its intoxicating scent and delicate appearance. The flowers open fully and look like little starfishes and come in an array of colours including white,blue, red, yellow, pink, purple, orange, green or multi-coloured. Meaning: The hyacinth symbolises peace, commitment and beauty, but also power and pride. Origin: The hyacinth came around 1560 from Turkey, Syria and the Lebanon to Europe. It was a couple of centuries before everyone could enjoy them. Around the 17th and 18th centuries hyacinths were so exclusive that only a couple of rich plant lovers had them in their greenhouses!
	Snowdrop The white flowers hang from a single stem with three inner petals curved into a tight pointed oval. These flower heads can be ‘single’ one layer of petals, or ‘double’ multiple layers of petals. The grassy foliage is a vibrant light green. Meaning: The snowdrop has come to symbolise hope and consolation as well as purity. Origin: Despite its long history in the UK, it may not actually be native here; it is a native of damp woods and meadows on the continent, but was not recorded as growing wild in the UK until the late 18th century.
Muscari Muscari produces distinctive bell-shaped flowers resemble upturned grape bunches during springtime, which is why it is also known as the Grape Hyacinth. They come in a vibrant blue and in a gradient from white to blue. The stems are around 15 cm long, with cheerful leaf spears at the bottom. Meaning: While the muscari isn’t specifically known for its symbolic meaning, rich blue tones are commonly associated with power and confidence. While the more purple shades tend to represent mystery, calm and creativity Origin: Grape hyacinths originate from Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, the Caucasus, the Mediterranean and Asia Minor. They now also grow widely in our part of the world.

Spring is very nearly here! Whether you choose Artificial Flowers or Fresh Flowers, make sure you capture the beauty of Spring and fill your home with lots of beautiful blooms.

Here at Country Baskets we have so many inspirational products that we are sure you will love.