Flowers and their meaning
This
whole flower language started in Constantinople in the 1600s,
and was brought to England in 1716 by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
who had spent time in Turkey with her husband. The interest
then moved to France (of course) where the Book 'Le Langage
des Fleurs' was printed with over 800 floral signs. Many were
toned down in the English translation at the time of Queen Victoria
because they were quite lusty and risque!
Here
are a few "nice" ones!
| White rosebud |
Heart ignorant of love |
| Crocus |
Abuse not |
| Rhubarb |
advice |
| Indian jasmine |
attachment |
| Holly |
Am I forgotten |
| Deep red carnation |
Alas! for my poor heart |
| Deep red rose |
bashful shame |
| Full red rose |
beauty |
| Burgendy rose |
unconscious beauty (hmm?) |
| Unique rose |
call me not beautiful |
| Turnip |
charity |
| Chrysanthemum |
cheerfulness in old age |
| Buttercup |
childishness |
| Great yellow daffodil |
chivalry |
| Lettuce |
coldheartedness |
| Moss rosebud |
confession of love |
| Red poppy |
consolation |
| Red tulip |
declaration of love |
| yellow rose |
decrease of love, jealousy |
| Mistletoe |
difficulties, I surmount |
| Yellow carnation |
rue, distain |
| Thornless rose |
early attachment |
| Anemone |
expectation |
| Scarlet poppy |
extravagance, fantastic |
| Blue violet |
faithfulness |
| Purple lilac |
first emotions of love |
| Forget-me-not |
ditto |
| Damask rose |
freshness |
| White rose |
I am worthy of you |
| Peach blossom |
I am your captive |
| Iris |
I have a message for you |
| White daisy |
innocence |
| Dandelion |
love's oracle |
| Lotus flower |
estranged love |
| Ivy |
marriage |
| Provence rose |
my heart is in flames |
| yellow iris |
passion |
| Dog rose |
pleasure and pain |
| Christmas rose |
relieve my anxiety |
| Filbert |
reconciliation |
| Spanish jasmine |
sensuality |
| Peony |
shame |
| White poppy |
sleep |
| yllow chrysanthemum |
slighted love |
| Amarylis |
splendid beauty |
| Honeyflower |
sweet and secret love |
| Pansy |
thoughts |
| Zinnia |
thoughts of absent friends |
| Forget-me-not |
also means true love |
| White and red rose |
unity |
| Parsley |
useful knowledge |
| Pink carnation |
woman's love |
| lady slipper |
win me and wear me (Hmm, OK..) |
| Marigold |
vulger minded |
| Rosemary |
your presence revives me |
| Ice plant |
your looks freeze me |
The
Language of Flowers.
Flowers
may be combined and arranged so as to express even the nicest
shades of sentiment.
If
a flower is offered ``reversed'', its direct signification is
likewise reversed, so that the flower now means the opposite.
A
rosebud divested of its thorns, but retaining its leaves, convays
the sentiment, ``I fear no longer; I hope.''
Stripped
of leaves and
thorns, it signifies, ``There is nothing to hope or fear.''
A
full-blown rose places over two buds, signifies ``Secrecy.''
``
Yes,'' is implied by touching the flower given to the lips; ``No,''
by pinching off a petal and casting it away.
``
I am,'' is expressed by a laurel leaf twined arround the bouquet;
``I have,'' by an ivy leaf folded together; ``I offer you,'' by
a leaf
of Virginia creeper.
COMBINATIONS
- Moss
Rosebud and Myrtle.
A confession of love.
- Mignonette
and Coloured Daisy.
Your qualities surpass your charms of beauty.
- Lily
of the Valley and Ferns.
Your unconscious sweetness has fascinated me.
- Yellow
Rose, Broken Straw and Ivy.
Your jealousy has broken our friendship.
- Scarlet
Geranium, Passion Flower, Purple Hyacinth, and Arbor Vitae.
I trust you will find consolation, through faith, in your sorrow;
be assured of my unchanging friendship.
- Columbine,
Day Lily, Broken Straw, Witch Hazel and Coloured Daisy.
Your folly and coquetry have broken the spell of your beauty.
- White
Pink, Canary Grass and Laurel.
Your talent and perseverance will win you glory.
- Golden-rod,
Monkshead, Sweet Pea and Forget-me-not.
Be cautious; danger is near; I depart soon; forget me not.
CARNATION, WHITE. - Distain.
CHINA-ASTER. - Variety.
CLOVER, FOUR-LEAF. - Be mine.
CLOVER, WHITE. - Think of me.
CLOVER, RED. - Industry.
COLUMBINE. - Folly.
COLUMBINE, PURPLE. - Resolved to win.
DAISY. - Innocence.
DEAD LEAVES. - Sadness.
DEADLY NIGHTSHADE. - Falsehood.
FERN. - Fascination.
FORGET-ME-NOT. - True love. Forget me not.
FUCHSIA, SCARLET. - Taste.
GERANIUM, SCARLET. - Consolation.
GERANIUM, ROSE. - Preference.
GOLDEN-ROD. - Be cautious.
HELIOTROPE. - Devotion.
HONEY-FLOWER. - Love, sweet and secret.
HYACINTH, WHITE. - Unobtrusive loveliness.
IVY. - Fidelity.
LADY'S SLIPPER. - Win me and wear me.
LILY, DAY. - Coquetry
LILY, WHITE. - Sweetness.
LILY, YELLOW. - Gaiety.
LILY OF THE VALLEY. - Return of happiness.
MIGNONETTE. - Your qualities surpass your charms.
MONKSHEAD. - Danger is near.
MYRTLE. - Love.
OATS. - The witching soul of music.
ORANGE BLOSSOMS. - Chastity.
PANSY. - Thoughts.
PASSION FLOWER. - Faith.
PEACH BLOSSOM. - I am your captive.
PEAR. - Affection.
PRIMROSE. - Inconstancy.
QUAKING GRASS. - Agitation.
ROSE. - Love.
ROSE, DEEP RED. - Bashful shame.
ROSE, YELLOW. - Jealousy.
ROSE, WHITE. - I am worthy of you.
ROSEBUD, MOSS. - Confession of love.
SHAMROCK. - Lightheartedness.
STRAW. - Agreement.
STRAW, BROKEN. - Broken agreement.
SWEEP PEA. - Depart.
TUBEROSE. - Dangerous pleasures.
VERBENA. - Pray for me.
WITCH HAZEL. - A spell.
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