February has long been a month of romance.
Every year, Valentine’s Day, a holiday honouring love and lovers, is celebrated on Feb. 14.
There are many ways in which we celebrate Saint Valentine’s Day and speak the language of love. One of the most profound ways is the language spoken with flowers.
Flowers have long been linked with romance. From the beginning of time, people have assigned special meaning and significance to flowers.
The lily, for example, is bestowed to be the sacred flower of motherhood. From pre-historic Crete as the symbolic Great Mother (Britomartis) to later times in Greece as the flower of Hera, the goddess of women, marriage and childbirth.
Early in the 18th century, French writer Louise Cortambert published a dictionary that formalized the language of flowers, Le Language des fleurs. The book provided a seasonal listing of flowers by name with selected anecdotes.
During the Victoria era that followed, lovers coded their sentiments in the languages of the specific colours and varieties of flowers.
Flowers have a language all their own; a symbolism that began as a way to send a message that still remains a sentimental practice by those who wish to convey a deeper meaning.
This Valentine’s Day, create your own special message for the one you love using the floral symbolism from The Language of Flowers.
Say I love you in all the different colours of roses. While red roses represent true passion, yellow is the colour of joy and freedom. Orange will show your fascination. Speak to one’s admiration in pure pinks, while the gracious charm of cream or the secrecy of white will be bestowed upon your valentine.
Whatever your sentiment, this Valentine’s Day compose your own romantic verse. Use the lyrics of love to speak to those you adore in the special language of flowers. Remember that flowers, in their unique verse, will express your sentiment in just the perfect way.
Shari Morash is a gardening enthusiast and an accredited designer. She is the owner and founder of Northern Elegance.
A Flowery Glossary
Beauty -orchid
Beautiful eyes -variegated tulip
Captive to you -peach blossoms
Coquetry -yellow day lily
Declaration of love -red tulip
Departure -sweet pea
Everlasting love -baby’s breath (gypsophlia)
First emotions of love -purple lilac
Hopeless love -yellow tulip
Innocence -daisy
Love -rose
Magnificent beauty -calla lily
Message for you -iris
Modesty -violet
Passionate love -yellow iris, red rose
Pride and beauty -carnation
Purity of the heart -water lily, lavender rose
Remembrance -rosemary
Return of happiness -lily of the valley
Secret love -gardenia
Sensitivity -mimosa
Sensual -jasmine
Sincerity -fern
Slighted -yellow chrysanthemum
Temperance -azalea
Truth -white chrysanthemum
Undying love -amaranth
Unity -red and white roses
