Friday, February 22, 2013

More than words. What your flowers are saying!

In Victorian times flowers took on much more than making a pretty tabletop. Called floriography, this coded language gave individuals a way to communicate feelings that were not allowed to be expressed openly. This is where the "tussie mussie" (small bouquets) sprang from. Add special meaning to your wedding day with some secret flower choices.

Amaryllis
Pride
Ambrosia
Love is reciprocated
Anemone
anticipation, unfading love. Price Range: Moderate.
Apple blossom
Preference
Aster
Symbol of love, daintiness, talisman of love,trusting
Azalea
Take Care, temperance, fragile, passion, Chinese symbols of womanhood
Baby's breath
Innocence, pure of heart. Price Range: Inexpensive
Bachelor button
Single blessedness, celibacy
Bells of Ireland
Luck
Buttercup
Riches
Calla Lily
Magnificent beauty  Price Range: Expensive
Carnation (general)
Fascination; distinction; love. Price Range: Inexpensive
Carnation (red)
Deep romantic love, passion, "My heart aches for you," "Alas; for my poor heart!"
Carnation (green)
secret symbol of the followers of Oscar Wilde
Carnation (white)
Sweet and lovely, innocence, pure love, faithfulness
Carnation (pink)
A woman's love, a mother's love, "I'll never forget you," "Always on my mind,"
Carnation (purple)
Capriciousness, whimsical, changeable, unreliability
Carnation (mauve)
Dreams of fantasy
Carnation (solid color)
Yes, affirmative
Cherry blossom
Feminine beauty
Chrysanthemum (red)
“I love". Price Range: Inexpensive
Daffodil
chivalry, return my affection. Price Range: Inexpensive (in season)
Dahlia
Elegance and dignity
Daisy (general)
Innocence, loyal love, purity, faith, cheer, simplicity. share your feelings.
Daisy (red)
Beauty unknown to possessor. Price Range: Inexpensive (in season)
Freesia
Meaning: Innocence. Price Range: Inexpensive (in season)
Forget-me-not
True love
Gardenia
You're lovely, secret love, joy, sweet love, good luck. Price Range: Expensive
Hibiscus
Rare delicate beauty
Hydrangea
heartfelt gratitude for being understood. Price Range: Expensive
Iris
Good news. A message of faith, wisdom. Price Range: Moderate to expensive, depending on variety
Ivy
Dependence, endurance
Jasmine               
Unconditional and eternal love (in the Philippines)
Jonquil 
"Return my affection"
Lavender
Devotion
Lilac (purple)
First emotion of love
Lilac (white)
Youthful innocence, memories. Price Range: Moderate to expensive. The French lilac is more flower-like and can be used as such in bouquets and arrangements.
Lily (white)
Purity
Lily (scarlet)
High-souled aspirations
Lily (orange)
Desire, passion. Price Range: Moderate to expensive
Lily of the Valley
Sweetness, Humility, Returning Happiness, Trustworthy. Price Range: Expensive. These small, fragile, bell-shaped flowers are considered traditional marriage flowers.
Moonflower
Dreaming of love
Orchid
Refined beauty. Price Range: Expensive
Oxeye daisy
Patience
Peony
Bashfulness; Prosperity & honor (China); Masculinity & bravery (Japan). Price Range: Expensive
Phlox
Harmony, "Our souls are united", "We think alike"
Plumeria
Perfection, springtime, new beginnings
Primrose
Eternal love
Protea
Courage
Poppy (general)
imagination
Poppy (red)
Pleasure
Poppy (white)
dreams, modern, peace
Poppy (yellow)
Wealth, success
Rose (red)
True love
Rose (blue)
Mystery, attaining the impossible, love at first sight
Rose (white)
silence or innocence, wistfulness, virtue, purity, secrecy, reverence and humility
Rose (black)
Death, hatred, farewell, rejuvenation or rebirth
Rose (yellow)
Friendship, jealousy, infidelity, apology, a broken heart, intense emotion, dying love, extreme betrayal
Rose (pink)
Grace
Rose (dark pink)
Gratitude
Rose (light pink)
Desire, passion, joy of life, youth, energy
Rose (burgundy)
Unconscious beauty
Rose (coral or orange)
Desire, passion
Rose (lavender/violet)
Love at first sight
Rose (red + white)
United
Stephanotis
Marital happiness. Price Range: Moderate. These trumpet-shape blossoms are traditional bridal flowers, no doubt due to their meaning.
Sunflower
Short-stemmed meanvPure and lofty thoughts. Price Range: Inexpensive to moderate in season
Sweetpea
"You have my thanks", Pleasure. Price Range: Moderate
Tulip (red)
Undying love. Price Range: Expensive.
Tulip (purple)
Forever love
Tulip (white)
One side love
Tulip (yellow)
Hopeless love
Violet (blue)
Faithfulness
Violet (purple)
Daydreaming
Violet (white)
Modesty
Violet (red + yellow)
Joy, happiness and excitement
Violet (thornless)
Love at first sight
Wheat
Wealth and prosperity


Flowers with Negative meanings
Certain flowers & plants have less desirable meanings attached. You might reconsider having them in your bouquets if you're superstitious. Or you can ignore those traditions and create all new meanings for the blooms you enjoy. Just for kicks, here's that list.
Christmas Rose: Scandal
Red Poppy: Consolation
Fig: Idleness
Rhododendron: Danger
Foxglove: Insincerity
Striped Carnation: Refusal
Larkspur: Infidelity
White Poppy: everlasting Sleep
Lavender: Distrust
Yellow Carnation: Disdain
Marigold: Grief
Yellow Chrysanthemum: Slighted Love
Mulberry: I shall not survive you
Yellow Lily: Falsehood
Raspberry: Remorse
Yellow Rose: Jealousy
Red Carnation: Alas for my poor heart



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