The History behind the National Flower of Australia

The glorious beauty of the Golden Wattle flower has been established in the hearts and minds of the Australian people, as it is the national flower of Australia. These flowers are bright in colour with large and fluffy petals and a sweet fragrance. They are mostly yellow and sometimes have a whitish tone. The Golden Wattle plant is a shrub that is found in various parts of Australia, specifically in hot and dry regions. If you want to arrange Golden Wattle flower delivery Melbourne to someone on the wattle day, you can take help from some of the best florists in the city.

This flower is an intrinsic part of the history and culture of Australia, and it has been used in many ways by the aboriginal population in the country since ancient times. It is a plant that can withstand tough conditions including droughts and bush fires, and for that, it now stands as the symbol of resilience and harmony among the Australians. The wattle also serves as a memoir of the sacrifices made by Australian soldiers as these flowers were sent to the soldiers who served in the First World War. This was to bring them a touch of their homeland through the letters containing the flowers. As there are flowers for different occasions, the wattle is the right flower to represent the national solidarity.

The history of the wattle extends further into the past century as sprigs from the plant were used to raise money for the First World War. Previously wattle flowers were also placed on deceased Australian soldiers before burying their bodies and many decorations, medals and banners of the Australian Defence Force carry the symbol of the wattle. Even the Australian national colours of bright green and gold represent a blooming wattle flower.

The aboriginal inhabitants of Australia mixed the gum from the wattle plant with water and honey to produce a toffee-like edible substance. The bark was also used as an antiseptic as it contains tannin and this was also used by the colonial settlers in the tanning industry in the later days. They also started producing honey from the flowers in subsequent times. The flower was first recognised as the floral symbol of the nation in 1901 and 1^st of September is celebrated as National Wattle Day in Australia. This also marks the beginning of spring, and the wattle represents new growth, aspirations and fresh beginnings in the life of the nation.

Out of the 1300 species of shrub found throughout the world, Australia has about 950 of them growing in its land. But it is only in Australia that this vibrant flower is so entwined with the spirit of the nation. Various Australians sports teams, including the cricket team, wear dresses with the green and gold shades. It can be worth mentioning here that when Queen Elizabeth II wore the wattle on her gown when she took her place on the throne of her coronation day.

There are florists for flower delivery in Australia who can arrange for the delivery of best flowers including the wattle. Ordering wedding bouquets online from these florists is very simple, and if you want to present someone with a bouquet of wattles, you can easily contact the top florists for a flower delivery Melbourne.

Author Bio: Kiran Hurkadli is an owner of �Melbourne Fresh Flowers�, it is a leading online florist in Melbourne. Kiran has a passion for flower decoration, blogging, and photography.

5 Corporate Gifting Ideas for Diwali this Year

Diwali, the Indian festival of lights is a great occasion for businesses & corporates to emotionally connect with their employees and clients through amazing gifts.

Here are five such wonderful ideas that are sure to begin that long lasting relationship -

1. Sugar-free Chocolates 

What with today�s modern concept of gifting healthy items, the corporate world is no exception to it. Sugar-free chocolates are booming products because of the rapid growth of diabetes worldwide.

These healthy chocolates make for perfect Diwali gifts for your office staff as well as your clients.

Good for all, including those who are cautious about sugar intake as well as binge eaters, sugar-free chocolates are easily available in decorative packaging. This only adds to the festive fervor.

Furthermore, the main ingredient of sugar-free chocolates is cocoa, a titan of health benefits.

While gifting your clients, take a step further! Get innovative by giving promotional gifts, such as sugar-free chocolates with your corporate logo printed on them in edible ink.

2. LED Task Lamps -

When it comes to lighting, LED lighting is the latest craze today. With a plethora of benefits including a longer lifespan, higher energy efficiency, reduced glare and improved safety, among others, LED lighting has rightly replaced traditional lighting.

LED task lamps, with their sleek designs and a flexible arm and head, direct light exactly where you need it.

These lamps come with USB connectors and thus can be easily fitted to your desktop or laptop systems. What�s more, while using an LED task lamp, you don�t even need to switch on the room lighting.

This Diwali gift would surely increase the productivity of your office staff, ultimately benefiting the business. 

3. Cozy Blankets -

Diwali signals the onset of winter. So, let your office staff and clients get warm with soft, cozy and durable blankets.

Indian artwork featured on the comfortable coverings would only enhance this useful gift. 

Tired from the day�s work and struggling with the winter blues, your office staff would really love to jump in their beds and curl inside these cozy blankets.

Getting a good night�s sleep is a vital contributing factor in office productivity. By gifting cozy blankets, you also add a personal touch as such gifts show that you care.

4. Fitness Tracker Gadgets -

With health itself being the latest global buzzword, tracking health becomes absolutely important. Why not gift your office staff and clients with fitness tracker wearables?

Comfortably fitted to the wrist, these wearables track vital information like movement, steps and heart rate.

So, such gadgets are very useful while taking a brisk walk or jogging or simply doing any kind of exercise.

Exercise plays a key role in maintaining physical and mental health. Good health, in turn, is a crucial factor in being efficient and productive.

Excess weight and obesity is a common problem these days. You can also opt for weight reducing natural foods. They make for excellent option as well.

Which employee would not appreciate such great concern about his or her well-being?

5. Retail Gift Vouchers and E-gift Vouchers -

Everyone loves shopping! So, give your office staff the freedom to take their pick of garments or other useful products.

Trendy and useful, retail gift vouchers and e-gift vouchers would make for a joyous Diwali indeed! Additionally, e-gift vouchers make shopping even much easier for the staff, from the comfort of their homes.

Giving retail gift vouchers to your overseas clients who are on a work trip here would introduce them to Indian styles, particularly of clothing.

This would only draw them closer to Indian culture, thus strengthening your bond with them. 

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Nikky Watson -

I love all things fun. Drop in sometime and you�ll know what I mean :) For living and out of passion, I write and blog. I often contribute to Remedyliquor & other blogs.

Twitter - @nikky_watson