Speak in the Language of Flowers

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You can be thoughtful, mysterious, and creative all at once when you share a nosegay that
you’ve arranged according to the Victorian-era “language of flowers.” Suitors in that era
would pick certain flowers according to their “flower dictionary” definitions, and the recipients
might spend days decoding the floral message. Today, you could give a theme bouquet as
a special treat for a friend, family member, or romantic interest, along with leads for deciphering
your meaning. For example, a friend facing a job interview could be the recipient of a
posy made of chamomile (energy in adversity), hollyhock (ambition), and basil (good
wishes). Or you could present tickets for a date to spice up a longtime relationship, and
present a small bouquet of fern (fascination), hyacinth (sport, game, or play), and chickweed
(rendezvous) alongside.

Best of all, many of the most meaningful flowers are blooms you can cultivate yourself or
find in a vacant lot, so you can indulge often—and the arrangements are far more original
than most anything you’d find at the florist. Here are 20 flower messages from Kate Greenaway’s
Language of Flowers (1885).

Excerpt from 1,001 Old-Time Household Hints—brought to you by Skyhorse Publishing