Flower Language

A carefully selected bouquet of flowers can express our deepest feelings. Often flowers speak of love or sorrow I do not know of a more beautiful language.

Symbolic meanings have been attributed to flowers in the East and West since Roman days. The most perfect example in the Madonna lily is a symbol of purity and chastity to this day. Likewise the long stemmed Red rose represents love.

In the seventeenth century many ladies carried posies of sweet smelling flowers and herbs to ward of unpleasant smells. The posies had meanings, too, when you gave a posy to a friend or loved one it might be nice to add a small note letting them know the meaning of the posy.

In Elizabethan and the Victorian times many meanings were attributed to almost every flower in the garden. Many Books were written on this subject, each claiming to have the most flower entries and meanings.
Unfortunately the flower books disagreed on some of the meanings.
Obviously it made it hard to decipher the message of the bouquets!!

At the end of the nineteenth century, the fashion for using flowers as a language had died out; today few people know the meanings attached to many flowers. I believe it is time to reverse the trend and look again at the language of flowers. We would bring a little romance and excitement into our lives.

Names and meanings:

Alyssum; Worth beyond Angelica; Soaring thoughts
Beauty Aster; I partake your sentiments
Amaryllis; Splendid Bachelors buttons; Celibacy
Beauty Bears breeches; Fine arts
Apple; Temptation Bluebell; Constancy
Azalea; Temperance Yellow carnation; Disdain
Bay; Glory Cyclamen; Difference
Belladonna lily; Pride Columbine; Folly
Silence Clematis; Mental beauty
Borage; Courage Crocus; Youthful gladness
Red camellia; Unpretending, Convolvulus; Folly
Excellence Dahlia; Pomp
White camellia; Perfect Fennel; Flattery
Loveliness Fig; Idleness
Red carnation; Alas for Fuchsia; Taste
the poor heart Heather; Solitude
Striped carnation; Refusal Honesty; Honesty
Pink cherry tree; Good Hop; Injustice
Education Hyssop; Sacrifice
Christmas rose; Scandal Iris; Message
Red chrysanthemum; Jasmine; Amiability
I love you Larkspur; Infidelity
White chrysanthemum; Truth Lilac; First emotions of love
Yellow chrysanthemum; Lilac; First emotions of love
Slighted love Yellow lily; Falsehood
Daffodil; Regard Magnolia; Grief
Daisy; Innocence Mimosa; Secret love
Forget-me-not; True love Mock orange; Counterfeit
Foxglove; Insincerity Pansy; Thoughts
Lemon scented geranium; Phlox; Unanimity
Unexpected meeting Clove pinks; Resignation
Gillyflower; Bonds of Rhododendron; Dander
Affection Polyanthus; Pride of riches
Hollyhock; Ambition Scarlet poppy; Fantastic
Honeysuckle; Generous Primrose; Early youth
Affection White rose; I am
Hyacinth; Game sport worthy of you
Ice plant; your looks Yellow rose; Jealousy
Freeze me Red rose; love
Ivy; Fidelity Rosemary; Remembrance
Jonquil; I desire a return Raspberry; Remorse
of affection Rue; Grief
Lad’s love; Jest Red poppy; Consolation
Lavender; Distrust White poppy; Sleep
Regal lily Majesty; what Scabrous; Unfortunate
could be more regal? Red pinks; Pure love
White lily; Purity Striped pinks; Refusal
Lily-of –the-valley; Return Snapdragon; Presumption
of happiness Sunflower; Haughtiness
Love-in-a-mist; Perplexity Sweet pea; Departure
Michaelmas daisy; Thyme; Activity
Afterthought Red tulip; Declaration
Mint; Wisdom of love
Mulberry; I shall not Yellow tulip; Hopeless love
Survive you Myrtle; Love Tulip; Fame
Nasturtium; Patriotism Ware lily; Purity of heart
Parsley; Rejoice Yarrow; War
Pineapple; You are perfect
Snapdragon; Presumption Tulip; Fame
Stock; lasting beauty Tuberose; Dangerous pleasures
Stock; lasting beauty Violet; Modesty
Sweet William; Gallantry Weeping willow; Mourning





Potpourri

Fragrant plant material such as rose petals, iris, geranium, ginger, lavender, mimosa flowers, to name a few.

The ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans all used plants in fragrant mixes, frankincense, myrrh, orris root, eucalyptus.

Derived from the French, meaning rotten plant, “rotten” seems to be a very inappropriate word for the beautiful smelling mixtures of dried petals and oils.


Making potpourri

The most popular is the dry method the fragrant flowers and petals are dried completely. This takes about two weeks with some of the thicker leaves and petals.

Once they are dry the fragrant petals are mixed with fixatives, spices and oils, and placed in a jar to mature. The jar is sealed and shaken every day for about 8 weeks until it is ready for use.

Potpourris placed in small baskets and pretty bags tied with ribbons make a wonderful gift. You can scatter the leaves round the house put it in your linen closet, and in drawers between sheets and towels.

The perfume lasts for months before it starts to fade.

Potpourri recipes

Lavender mix

2 cups lavender flowers Woodland mix
2cups fir cones
2cups rose petals 2 cups cedar twigs
2cups rosemary leaves 3 tablespoons of
1 cup of lemon leaves orris root powder
1 cup chamomile flowers 5 drops cedar wood oil
1cup dried lemon peel 5 drops of sander wood oil
7drops lavender oil Mix all together
Dry all ingredients and stir in oils drop by
thoroughly drop and seal in a
Stir in the lavender oil container for 2 months.
drop by drop and seal to mature…
in a jar for 2 months
to mature…

Rose Mix Seedy mix

10 cups rose petals 1 cup aniseed
1cup of geranium leaves 1 cup rose hips
½ cup rose hips ½ cup cardamom seeds
½ cup powdered orris root 1 cup juniper berries
2 tablespoon cloves 1 cup cedar cone seeds
2tablespoon allspice ½ cup allspice
6 drops lemon oil 1 cup of mixed orange and
Dry all ingredients lemon peel
thoroughly Dry all ingredients
Stir in the lemon oil horoughly
drop by drop 8 drops of patchouli oil
Seal in a container for Stir in the patchouli oil
2 months to mature drop by drop
Seal in a container for
2 months to mature…