The Language of Flowers
While all of my lovely annuals are sleeping under a blanket of snow right now, I’ve been flipping through sample books as inspiration for the Spring and Summer collections. There’s no doubt color can project all kinds of emotions, ideas and meanings, but so can flowers! With Valentine’s Day approaching, I’ve also been thinking more about floriography - the art of communicating with flowers.
Using flowers to communicate was quite the hobby in the Victorian era. Flowers, colors and combinations of flowers have different meanings and could often be used as a secret - or not so secret - code. Courting was a very rigid process in that time and flowers were sometimes used to communicate sentiments. Sending someone a single red rose meant you had a crush on them. But if they sent you back a single yellow rose, it meant they were not interested! Imagine that happening on The Bachelor!
There are so many wonderful flowers that you can use to share your feelings! Most red flowers obviously hint at romance! But flowers stand for so many other emotions like esteem, passion, hope and friendship. Chrysanthemum and Geranium stand for friendship. Dahlias reflect lasting bonds or commitment. Gladiolas are for generosity, Sunflowers represent loyalty, Irises are for hope. But sometimes the color adds extra meaning! A yellow iris stands for passion, so be careful which you pick!
We have huge Hydrangea bushes near the farmhouse and I love that they represent gratitude and understanding. Gathering stems to share with friends is a favorite spring/summer activity. I usually wrap them up with a beautiful tea towel or bundle together with a bracelet as a unique hostess gift! We also have some amazing Peonies which represent luck, happiness and prosperity. When in season, they are one of my favorite bouquets for someone with a new home or new job. Peonies are simply happy flowers which is why they have been incorporated into our beautiful Rebecca Ray stationery and tea towel designs.
For now I’ll need to be satisfied with our Holly - which symbolizes peace, good fortune and merriment - and coaxing my Violets (loyalty and love) and Pansies (both considered the birth flower for February) to keep blooming on the porch.
I can’t wait for spring!