Cosmo Flower Petals (Peace and Tranquility)
Embedded in Shredded Paper
Conveying specific messages through the giving of herbs and flowers, and plants is known as the Language of Flowers or Florigraphy. In the 19th century people spoke or communicated with flowers instead of words, which was influenced by Queen Victoria (1839-1901).
Author's gathered plant symbolism's from every possible source, previous dictionaries, Egyptian hieroglyphics, Greek and Roman mythology, the Bible, religious beliefs, natural myths, classical poetry, literature, flower color and fragrance.
The rose was “The Queen of Flowers” which many phrases came from; rosy complexion, everything is rosy, lovely as a rose. Each rose color had a different Meaning, for example:
Coral - Glory
Lavender - Pure Love
Pink - Grace
Red - Love
White - Regard
Yellow - Friendship
The parts of plants were also given meanings. For example, Violet leaves and flowers resemble that of the human heart, so it was given the meaning “happiness” which was thought to originate in the heart.
The same plant was often called different names by different authors, depending on locality and conversation style. There were so many dictionaries with different meanings that the sender and receiver of the flowers would have had to use the same dictionary in order to interpret the message correctly. Flora’s Dictionary written by Mrs. E. W. Wirt in 1829 was the first floral dictionary.
Today we can make tussie-mussies, nosegays, cards pressed with flowers and potpourri to send a silent message, but be sure to include an explanation note.
This simple meaningful potpourri recipe was created for Mother’s from my garden in Idaho. Lavenderflowers (devotion), Orange Mint Leaves (wisdom), Rose Petals (Love), Rosemary Leaves (Remembrance), Sunflower Petals (Pride).
Reference: Flora’s Dictionary, The Victorian Language of Herbs and Flowers, by Kathleen Gips
