Nightlighters Dance: Garden Party

Did You Know? - A garden party is a party in a park or a garden. An event described as a garden party is usually more formal than other outdoor gatherings, which may be called simply parties, picnics, barbecues, etc. A garden party can be a prestigious event. For example, invitations by the British Sovereign to garden parties at Buckingham Palace are considered an honor. The President of France holds a garden party at the Palais de l'Elysée in Paris on Bastille Day.

Did You Know? - The etymology of the word gardening refers to enclosure: it is from Middle English gardin, from Anglo-French gardin, jardin, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German gard, gart, an enclosure or compound, as in Stuttgart. See Grad (Slavic settlement) for more complete etymology. The words yard, court, and Latin hortus (meaning "garden," hence horticulture and orchard), are cognates—all referring to an enclosed space.

The term "garden" in British English refers to a small enclosed area of land, usually adjoining a building. This would be referred to as a yard in American English.

Did You Know? - At one point in history, tulips were the most expensive flower. In fact, in the 1600s the flowers were more valuable than most people's homes, and cost almost 10 times what an average working-class man earned in a year.

Like many other flowers, tulips are edible! In fact, during World War II, tulips and tulip breads were often eaten by those who couldn't afford other foods. The flowers can be used to replace onions in many recipes and are even used to make wine.

Did You Know? - Carnations, also called clove pink and gillyflower, are an edible flower with a spicy odor that are native to the Mediterranean region.

They can be candied, pickled with spices, and used fresh in salads.

In the past it has been used to spice wine and beer, and as a substitute for the more expensive clove.

Did You Know? - The (usually) white petals count as one flower and the cluster of (usually) tiny yellow disc petals that form the 'eye' is technically another.

Daisies belong the family of 'vascular plants' - those which circulate nutrients and water throughout the plant. They make up almost 10% of all flowering plants on Earth.

Did You Know? - Poppy seeds do contain opium alkaloids, meaning that if poppy seeds are ingested, in the most innocent of ways, it can give false readings during a drugs test. As a result, people travelling on planes between countries are advised not to carry poppy seeds, and in Singapore they are classified as 'prohibited goods'.

Did You Know? - The largest rose bloom ever bred was a pink rose measuring approximately 33 inches in diameter, bred by Nikita K. Rulhoksoffski from San Onofre, California.

The largest living rose is in Tombstone, Arizona. When it is in bloom it has over 200,000 blossoms, and is supported by an arbour under which people can sit. It is a white Rosa banksiae.

The longest living rose is believed to be over a thousand years old and grows on the wall of Hildesheim in Germany. Its presence has been documented since 815 A.D. It is a wild dog rose, or Rosa canina.