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Speak in the Language of Flowers
by The Editors of Yankee Magazine
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).
| FLOWER | MEANING | |
| Alyssum, sweet | Worth beyond beauty | |
| Amaryllis | Pride, timidity, splendid beauty | |
| Azalea | Temperance | |
| Basil, sweet | Good wishes | |
| Carnation | Woman's love | |
| Chamomile | Energy in adversity | |
| Chickweed | Rendezvous | |
| Chrysanthemum (white) | Truth | |
| Columbine (red) | Anxious and trembling | |
| Coreopsis | Always cheerful | |
| Daffodil | Regard | |
| Elm | Dignity | |
| Fern | Fascination | |
| Hibiscus | Delicate beauty | |
| Holly | Foresight | |
| Hollyhock | Ambition, fecundity | |
| Honeysuckle | Generous and devoted affection | |
| Hyacinth | Sport, game, play | |
| Ivy | Fidelity, marriage | |
| Lilac (purple) | First emotions of love | |
| Lily of the valley | Return of happiness | |
| Moss | Maternal love | |
| Nasturtium | Patriotism | |
| Periwinkle (blue) | Early friendship | |
| Primrose | Early youth | |
| Rhubarb | Advice | |
| Sage, garden | Esteem | |
| Shamrock | Lightheartedness | |
| Sweet pea | Departure | |
| Tulip (red) | Declaration of love | |
| Tulip (variegated) | Beautiful eyes | |
| Tulip (yellow) | Hopeless love | |
| Violet (blue) | Faithfulness | |
| Zinnia | Thoughts of absent friends |
Excerpt from 1,001 Old-Time Household Hints—brought to you by Skyhorse Publishing
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