Flowers and Their Meaning

This whole flower language started in Constantinople in the 1600s, and was brought to England in 1716 by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu who had spent time in Turkey with her husband. The interest then moved to France (of course) where the Book 'Le Langage des Fleurs' was printed with over 800 floral signs. Many were toned down in the English translation at the time of Queen Victoria because they were quite lusty and risque!

Here are a few "nice" ones!

White rosebud	Heart ignorant of love
Crocus	Abuse not
Rhubarb	advice
Indian jasmine	attachment
Holly	Am I forgotten
Deep red carnation	Alas! for my poor heart
Deep red rose	bashful shame
Full red rose	beauty
Burgendy rose	unconscious beauty (hmm?)
Unique rose	call me not beautiful
Turnip	charity
Chrysanthemum	cheerfulness in old age
Buttercup	childishness
Great yellow daffodil	chivalry
Lettuce	coldheartedness
Moss rosebud	confession of love
Red poppy	consolation
Red tulip	declaration of love
yellow rose	decrease of love, jealousy
Mistletoe	difficulties, I surmount
Yellow carnation	rue, distain
Thornless rose	early attachment
Anemone	expectation
Scarlet poppy	extravagance, fantastic
Blue violet	faithfulness
Purple lilac	first emotions of love
Forget-me-not	ditto
Damask rose	freshness
White rose	I am worthy of you
Peach blossom	I am your captive
Iris	I have a message for you
White daisy	innocence
Dandelion	love's oracle
Lotus flower	estranged love
Ivy	marriage
Provence rose	my heart is in flames
yellow iris	passion
Dog rose	pleasure and pain
Christmas rose	relieve my anxiety
Filbert	reconciliation
Spanish jasmine	sensuality
Peony	shame
White poppy	sleep
Yellow chrysanthemum	slighted love
Amarylis	splendid beauty
Honeyflower	sweet and secret love
Pansy	thoughts
Zinnia	thoughts of absent friends
Forget-me-not	also means true love
White and red rose	unity
Parsley	useful knowledge
Pink carnation	woman's love
lady slipper	win me and wear me (Hmm, OK..)
Marigold	vulger minded
Rosemary	your presence revives me
Ice plant	your looks freeze me

The Language of Flowers.

Flowers may be combined and arranged so as to express even the nicest shades of sentiment.

If a flower is offered ``reversed'', its direct signification is likewise reversed, so that the flower now means the opposite.

A rosebud divested of its thorns, but retaining its leaves, convays the sentiment, ``I fear no longer; I hope.''

Stripped of leaves and thorns, it signifies, ``There is nothing to hope or fear.''

A full-blown rose places over two buds, signifies ``Secrecy.''

``Yes,'' is implied by touching the flower given to the lips; ``No,'' by pinching off a petal and casting it away.

``I am,'' is expressed by a laurel leaf twined arround the bouquet; ``I have,'' by an ivy leaf folded together; ``I offer you,'' by a leaf of Virginia creeper.

COMBINATIONS

Moss Rosebud and Myrtle.
A confession of love.
Mignonette and Coloured Daisy.
Your qualities surpass your charms of beauty.
Lily of the Valley and Ferns.
Your unconscious sweetness has fascinated me.
Yellow Rose, Broken Straw and Ivy.
Your jealousy has broken our friendship.
Scarlet Geranium, Passion Flower, Purple Hyacinth, and Arbor Vitae.
I trust you will find consolation, through faith, in your sorrow; be assured of my unchanging friendship.
Columbine, Day Lily, Broken Straw, Witch Hazel and Coloured Daisy.
Your folly and coquetry have broken the spell of your beauty.
White Pink, Canary Grass and Laurel.
Your talent and perseverance will win you glory.
Golden-rod, Monkshead, Sweet Pea and Forget-me-not.
Be cautious; danger is near; I depart soon; forget me not.

CARNATION, WHITE. - Distain.
CHINA-ASTER. - Variety.
CLOVER, FOUR-LEAF. - Be mine.
CLOVER, WHITE. - Think of me.
CLOVER, RED. - Industry.
COLUMBINE. - Folly.
COLUMBINE, PURPLE. - Resolved to win.
DAISY. - Innocence.
DEAD LEAVES. - Sadness.
DEADLY NIGHTSHADE. - Falsehood.
FERN. - Fascination.
FORGET-ME-NOT. - True love. Forget me not.
FUCHSIA, SCARLET. - Taste.
GERANIUM, SCARLET. - Consolation.
GERANIUM, ROSE. - Preference.
GOLDEN-ROD. - Be cautious.
HELIOTROPE. - Devotion.
HONEY-FLOWER. - Love, sweet and secret.
HYACINTH, WHITE. - Unobtrusive loveliness.
IVY. - Fidelity.
LADY'S SLIPPER. - Win me and wear me.
LILY, DAY. - Coquetry
LILY, WHITE. - Sweetness.
LILY, YELLOW. - Gaiety.
LILY OF THE VALLEY. - Return of happiness.
MIGNONETTE. - Your qualities surpass your charms.
MONKSHEAD. - Danger is near.
MYRTLE. - Love.
OATS. - The witching soul of music.
ORANGE BLOSSOMS. - Chastity.
PANSY. - Thoughts.
PASSION FLOWER. - Faith.
PEACH BLOSSOM. - I am your captive.
PEAR. - Affection.
PRIMROSE. - Inconstancy.
QUAKING GRASS. - Agitation.
ROSE. - Love.
ROSE, DEEP RED. - Bashful shame.
ROSE, YELLOW. - Jealousy.
ROSE, WHITE. - I am worthy of you.
ROSEBUD, MOSS. - Confession of love.
SHAMROCK. - Lightheartedness.
STRAW. - Agreement.
STRAW, BROKEN. - Broken agreement.
SWEEP PEA. - Depart.
TUBEROSE. - Dangerous pleasures.
VERBENA. - Pray for me.
WITCH HAZEL. - A spell.

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