Speaking from the heart
Flowers once used to convey particular virtue, message or thought
In Roman mythology, the story is told of Rhodanthe, a woman who was so beautiful that her many suitors were constantly at her heels. She disdained them all and retreated to the Temple of Diana. But when those suitors broke down the temple gates to get in, Diana became enraged and transformed Rhodanthe into an exquisite rose — and her suitors into the thorns.
But the rose is not the only flower that sends an important message. Every flower has at one time or another been associated with a particular virtue, message or thought.
This language of flowers, in which flowers and floral arrangements were used to send particular messages, may have originated in Persia. King Charles II is thought to have brought it to Sweden in the 17th century. Floriography, as it is called, was also practiced in Japan, where it is known as "hanakotoba."
But it probably reached it peak in Victorian England, says Lisa Benenson, editor-in-chief at Hallmark Magazine. "There was a strict social code, and courtship had to be very discreet. They would communicate without words by sending bouquets with hidden meanings."
In a a dog-eared and worn book called "Floral Poesy," printed in Victorian times, the editor notes that "The most charming of all gifts is one of flowers. A queen may give them to her subjects; and the poorest subject may offer them to a monarch.
"They are representative of all times and of all nations; the pledges of all feelings. The infant plays with them and gains his first idea of beauty from their blossoms; the lover gives them to his beloved; the bride wears them. We offer them to our beloved dead; dynasties are represented by a flower; nations adopt them as emblems. Universal is their hold on human sympathies; universal their language."
Alas, many of us no longer speak this language, but that doesn't mean we can't have some fun with it, Benenson says. Unlike the candy hearts that come with clear messages, "choosing just the right flower combinations for your valentine can prove to be challenging."
Of course, you can never go wrong with red roses, she added. "But every relationship is unique, so try personalizing it with a special touch."
For example, entwining ivy in your bouquet can symbolize marriage and fidelity. "Guys who are not ready to pop the question may want to stay away from that," she said, but it can be a touching addition for a couple who has been married for awhile.
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