Floriography  − 31 January, 2008

The “Language of Flowers” is an interesting and intriguing tradition from Victorian times. Each flower represented something and even how they were given and received meant something – right hand meant “yes” and the left hand meant “no.”
You could basically create a bouquet and tell someone all of your feelings without saying a word. Most of the flowers represented good things – love, affection, sincerity – but some also held more negative associations such as deceit and infidelity.
It is somehow fitting that flowers are often given to those we have romantic attachments to – they are the sex organs of the plant. My own personal preference is to receive the actual plant with the flowers attached. An entire plant will last a longer time and will bloom over and over again if taken care of properly. That’s not to say that I don’t love getting cut flowers – I am a sucker for roses – the darker or more unusual, the better. I also adore pure white Calla Lilies. Their graceful shape is mesmerizing to me.
Looking at the charts of what certain flowers mean in floriography, I probably will make up some really weird messages. There are just some things that my eye prefers, despite what meaning the Victorians arbitrarily attached to it.
For my wedding, I selected very simple, elegant bouquets. My bridal arrangement was a dozen white Calla Lillies tied with a graceful ribbon and carried laid along my arm. The flower girls had similar arrangements but with mini Calla Lilies. It was adorable.
For my bridesmaids I selected a small cascade of Ivy (which represents fidelity) and pure white Asiatic Lilies. I have no idea what Asiatic Lilies mean, but their beautiful star-shaped bloom perfectly complemented the Ivy and the 5-pointed star is a Wiccan symbol. A Wiccan priest and good friend actually performed the ceremony for us.
It was outdoors in a garden and the gazebo was draped in Ivy as well. My collie was the “honorary” ringbearer – he proudly walked up the aisle between the flower girls and it was just a beautiful sight. He wore a plaid sash in the “MacLeod” tartan (his name is MacLeod) around his snowy ruff, and looked magnificent.
I love trumpet-shaped blooms, too – snapdragons are one of my favorites, foxgloves too. I tend to like jewel tones, so the rich colors – again, I like the unique colors – are my preference. I don’t what that means in floriography, either – probably something sinful.
So take a minute and smell the flowers today. You might be glad you did.