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FLORIOGRAPHY
I enjoy receiving flowers just as much as the next gal. My favorite season for flowers is spring, since my favourite flower is the peony. I also have a soft spot for cherry blossoms, tulips, crocus, freesias, and daffodils.
I have always been fascinated with florigraphy, the study of the language of flowers. Throughout the ages, flowers have been used to communicate messages, sometimes spiritual (such as the “purity” of the lily in reference to Mary), sometimes magical (as in medicine). The Victorian Age in England led to flowers being used as a means of communication in which flowers, posies, bouquets, and arrangements were used to send coded messages. Yes, you could express feelings with flowers that otherwise could not be spoken.
But it’s not just the British. The Japanese also have a language of flowers called Hanakotoba, used much the same way. I’ve touched upon both of these flower languages in a post about tulips (refresher HERE).
In the very least, I find it so artful and sweet, and useful for all bouquets, including wedding, friendship, courtship and the like. I’m just going to highlight the flowers I like the most here…
AMARYLLIS – pride (F); shy (H)

Amaryllis
AZALEA – Take care of yourself, Temperance, Fragile (F); Patient/Modest (H)

Azalea
BIRD OF PARADISE – Liberty, Magnificence, Good Perspective

Bird of Paradise
BLUEBELL/BELL FLOWER – Humility, Constancy, Gratitude (F); Grateful (H)

Bluebells
BUTTERCUP – Riches, Childishness

Buttercup
CALLA LILY – Magnificent Beauty

Calla Lilies
CAMELLIA – Admiration, Perfection, Good Luck Gift for a Man, Gratitude
CAMELLIA (PINK) – Longing

Pink Camellia
CAMELLIA (RED) – You’re a flame in my heart (F); In Love (H)

Red Camellia
CAMELLIA (WHITE) – Adoration, Perfection, Loveliness (F); Waiting (H)

White Camellia
CAMELLIA (YELLOW): Longing (H)

Yellow Camellia
CAMELLIA (JAPANESE): Unpretending excellence

Camellia Japonica
CHERRY BLOSSOM: A good education (F); Transience of life, Wabi-sabi, Gentle, Kind (H); Feminine Beauty (C)

Cherry Blossoms
CHRYSANTHEMUM (RED): “I love”

Red Chrysanthemum
CHRYSANTHEMUM (YELLOW): Slighted love (F); Imperial, Elegant (H)

Yellow Chrysanthemum (via elisedean)
CHRYSANTHEMUM (WHITE): Truth/Self-Esteem (H)

White Chrysanthemum
CORNFLOWER – Delicacy, Refinement (F)

Cornflowers
CROCUS – Cheerfulness, Abuse Not, Gladness (F)

Crocus
DAFFODIL – Regard, Unrequited Love, Sunshine, Respect, The Sun Shines When I’m with You; Uncertainty, Chivalry
DAFFODIL (YELLOW ): Chivalry

Daffodils
DAHLIA – Dignity and Elegance, Forever Thine (F); Good Taste (H)

Dahlias (via rclark)
DAISY – Innocence, Loyal Love, I’ll Never tell, Purity, Beauty (F); Faith (H)
DAISY OX-EYE – Patience (F)

Daisies
DAISY (RED) – Beauty Unknown to Possessor

Red Daisy (via melissawrzesniewsky)
FORGET ME NOT – True Love, Memories

Forget-Me-Nots (via nodov)
FREESIA – Innocence, Trust (F); Immaculate, Childish, Immature (H)

Freesias (via lonoak)
GARDENIA – You’re lovely, Secret love, Purity, Refinement (F); Secret Love, Pure (H)

Gardenia
GERBERA DAISY – Innocence

Gerbera Daisies
GLADIOLI – Generosity, I’m sincere, Flower of the gladiators

Gladioli
HIBISCUS – Consumed by Love, Delicate Beauty, Rare beauty (F); Gentle (H)

Hibiscus
HYACINTH (BLUE) – Consistency

Blue Hyacinth
HYACINTH (PURPLE) – Sorry, Please Forgive Me, Sorrow

Purple Grape Hyacinth
HYACINTH (RED OR PINK) – Playful Joy

Pink Hyacinth (via o_lesyk)
HYACINTH (WHITE) – Unobtrusive Loveliness, I’ll Pray for You

White Hyacinth
HYACINTH (YELLOW) – Jealousy

Yellow Hyacinth
HYDRANGEA – Thank You for Understanding, Frigidity, Heartlessness (F); Pride (H)

Blue Hydrangea
IRIS – Faith, Wisdom, Promise in Love, Hope, Wisdom & Valor (F); Noble Heart, Good News (H)

Iris
IVY – Wedded Love, Fidelity, Friendship, Affection, Dependence, Endurance
IVY (SPRIG OF WHITE TENDRILS)- Anxious to please, Affection

JASMINE (WHITE) – Amiability (F); Friendly, Graceful (H)
JASMINE (INDIAN) – Attachment

Indian Jasmine
JASMINE (SPANISH) – Sensuality

Spanish Jasmine (Jasminum Grandiflorum)
JASMINE (YELLOW) – Modesty, Grace, Elegance

Yellow Jasmine (Jessamine, Gelsemium sempervirens)
JONQUIL – Love Me, Affection Returned, Desire, Sympathy

Jonquils
LAVENDER – Love, Devotion, Distrust

Lavender (kbhew)
LILAC (GENERAL) – Beauty, Pride (F); First Love (H)
LILAC (PURPLE) – First emotions of love

Purple Lilac
LILAC (WHITE) – Youthful Innocence

White Lilac
LILY (all) – Majesty & Honor, Purity of Heart
LILY (TIGER) – Wealth, Pride, Prosperity

LILY (WHITE) – Virginity, Purity, Majesty, It’s Heavenly to be with You

White Lilies
LILY (YELLOW) – I’m Walking On Air, False, Gay, Gratitude

Yellow Lily (via v4vikey)
LILY OF THE VALLEY – Sweetness, Tears Of The Virgin Mary, Happiness, Humility (F); Promise of Happiness (H)

Lily-of-the-Valley
LOTUS – Estranged love, Forgetful of the Past

Pink Lotus
MAGNOLIA – Nobility, Perseverance, Nobility (F); Sublime (H)

Magnolia (via Jörg Dickmann)
MAGNOLIA (CHINESE) – Love of Nature

Chinese Magnolia
MORNING GLORY – Affection

Morning Glory
ORANGE BLOSSOM – Innocence, Eternal Love, Marriage, Fruitfulness

Orange Blossoms
ORCHID – Love, Beauty, Refinement, Chinese Symbol for Many Children, Thoughtfulness

Orchids
ORCHID (CATTLEYA) – Mature Charm
PANSY – Merriment, Thoughts (You Occupy My Thoughts)

Pansies
PEONY – Shame, Happy Marriage, Compassion, Bashfulness

Peonies
PERIWINKLE – Early Recollections, Pleasures of Memories, Sweet Memories

Periwinkles
PLUM BLOSSOM – Pure & True

Plum Blossoms (via Eiki Yasuda)
RHODODENDRON – Danger, Beware, I am Dangerous

Rhododendron
ROSE (BRIDAL) – Happiness

Bridal Roses
ROSE (BURGUNDY) – Unconscious Beauty

Burgundy Rose
ROSE (CHRISTMAS)- Relieve my anxiety

Christmas Rose (via Imogen Eve)
ROSE (CORAL) – Desire

Coral Roses
ROSE (DAMASK) – Freshness, Persian Ambassador of Love

Damask Roses (via pedroam-bang)
ROSE (DARK CRIMSON) – Mourning

Dark Crimson Rose (via WS2)
ROSE (LAVENDER) – Enchantment

Lavender-Purple Roses
ROSE (ORANGE) – Fascination

Orange Roses
ROSE (PINK) – Perfect Happiness, Secret Love, Grace & Sweetness, Indecision

Pink Roses
ROSE (DARK PINK) – Thankfulness
ROSE (PALE PINK) – Grace, Joy
ROSE (PEACH) – Immortality, Modesty

Peach Roses
ROSE (RED) – Love, Respect, Beauty

Red Roses
ROSE (A SINGLE RED ROSE) – I Love You

Single Red Rose
ROSE (TEA) – I’ll Remember, Always

Tea Rose
ROSE (WHITE) – Innocence, Charm, Purity, Humility, I am Worthy of You, Secrecy, Silence

White Roses
ROSE (YELLOW) – Joy, Jealousy, Friendship (one yellow rose with 11 red ones means love & passion)

Yellow Roses
ROSES (ASSORTED) – You’re everything to me

Bouquet of Assorted Roses
ROSES (BOUQUET OF FULLY BLOOMED ROSES): Gratitude
ROSEBUD – Beauty & Youth, A Heart Innocent of Love

Rose Bud (HKM Photo)
ROSEBUD (RED) – Pure & Lovely
ROSEBUD (WHITE) – Girlhood, Heart Ignorant of Love
ROSES (Single full bloom) – I truly love you, Simplicity.
* SNAPDRAGON – Gracious Lady, Strength

Snapdragons
SNOWDROP – Hope, Consolation

Snowdrops (via prolandscaper)
STEPHANOTIS – Marital Happiness, Desire to Travel

Stephanotis (via alispoems)
SUNFLOWER (TALL) – False riches, Pride (F); Love & Respect (H)

sunflowers (via imisshowitwasbefore)
SUNFLOWER ( DWARF) – Adoration
SWEETPEA – Good-by, Departure, Blissful Pleasure, Thank You for a Lovely (F); Joy (H)

Sweetpeas (via crudlynaturephotos)
TULIP (GENERAL) – Perfect Lover, Fame, Flower Emblem of Holland
* TULIP (RED) -Believe me, Declaration of Love
* TULIP (VARIEGATED) – Beautiful eyes
* TULIP (YELLOW) – There’s Sunshine In Your Smile
* VIOLET – Modesty, Virtue, Affection (F); Please Love Me (H)
* VIOLET (BLUE) – Watchfulness, Faithfulness, Love
* VIOLET (WHITE) – Let’s Take A Chance On Happiness
* WISTERIA – Welcome (F); Beautiful Birth (H)
* ZINNIA (MAGENTA) – Lasting Affection
* ZINNIA (MIXED) – Thinking (or in memory) of an Absent Friend
* ZINNIA (SCARLET) – Constancy
* ZINNIA (WHITE) – Goodness
* ZINNIA (YELLOW) – Daily Remembrance
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