Flowers have been an integral part of the human experience since the dawn of civilization. Since biblical times people have cultivated the soil to produce crops for food and medicines. Ancient Egyptians were blessed with a plentiful water supply from the Nile and an abundance of sunshine. The works of Greek and Egyptian writers and philosophers from the first century tell in some detail how plants and flowers were used to create an array of scented oils and incense. Flowers and herbs had a multitude of uses, ranging from simple medicinal cures to sacrificial offerings for the gods.