Flowers Bring Happiness

In Gilbert and Sullivan’s Mikado, Nanki-Poo sings about  flowers, because he’s happy about his upcoming marriage to the lovely Yum-Yum, which for him was as wonderful as the flowers that bloom in the spring.

The flowers that bloom in the spring, Tra la,

Breathe promise of merry sunshine –

As we merrily dance and we sing, Tra la,

We welcome the hope that they bring, Tra la,

Of a summer of roses and wine.

And that’s what we mean when we say that a thing

Is welcome as flowers that bloom in the spring.

Tra la la la la — Tra la la la la — Tra la la la la la!

Do Flowers Make Us Happy?

The association of flowers with happiness is a fact recently proven by researcher Jeannette Haviland-Jones. In her experiment, she sent unsuspecting women three different types of gifts – a candle, a fruit basket, or a bouquet of flowers. Everyone who received the flowers responded to the gift with a Duchenne smile. This is a particular type of smile indicating true enjoyment. More than a smile that lifts the corners of a person’s lips, a Duchenne smile reaches a person’s eyes until the corners crinkle. A Duchenne smile elevates a person’s mood.

Nancy Etcoff’s research found that having flowers in the home can bring residents increased personal well-being with less worry and anxiety.

How Do Flowers Cause These Effects?

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Apparently, smelling flowers reduces, our levels of stress-causing cortisol while stimulating the production of happy chemicals: dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin.

In general, we see flowers as a reward, and if someone gives flowers as a gift, we know we’re special.

And that’s what we mean when we say that a thing is welcome as flowers that bloom in the spring.

🌺. 🌸. 🌼

Illustrations

Smiling Face With Smiling Eyes Emoji. Attribution: Vincent Le Moign

Nanki-Poo

Rose by Gunnar Ries

Gallery Flower Photos by Author

Loretta G Breuning. “Why Flowers Make Us Happy.” Psychology Today. June 21 2017.

Jeannette Haviland-Jones, et. Al. “An Environmental Approach to Postive Emotion: Flowers.” Evolutionary Psychology. 2005. 3: 104-132.

Leonard Perry. “Relieve Stress with Flowers.” University of Vermont.