URBANA, Ill. – Love. Amor. Aimer. Liebe. Milovat. A red rose. Six different languages, all expressing the same emotion. Floriography is the forgotten language or secret language of flowers. Throughout history, including the Victorian Era and many cultures including the Persians have used flowers to send secret messages to others. Nowadays, many people use flowers to convey emotions but rely on florists to translate the emotion into flowers.
Flowers in a bouquet are like words or phrases in a sentence. Each one can convey a different part of the message or emotion but are you sure your flowers are sending the right message?
When thinking about luck, people often think of the four-leaf clover, however, there are other flowers representing luck. Since Victorian times, Bells of Ireland have been considered a symbol of good luck, the perfect flower to send to someone who is starting a new job or moving to a new home.Shamrocks are a symbol of good luck and fortune. Myrtle at a wedding means “Good luck and love in a marriage.”
When you pick a random bouquet from the store, does it say what you think it does? Here are three flower displays to practice decoding using the University of Illinois Extension Guide, "The Meaning of Flowers" available atgo.illinois.edu/FlowerMeaning. The answers are also listed below.
- Bouquet 1: Red and pink full-bloom roses; red and striped tulips; baby’s breath.
- Bouquet 2: Red, pink, and striped carnations; sweet pea. What if you add yellow roses?
- Flower Display 3: Snapdragons; red and pink full bloom roses; moss.
If you have a specific sentiment or occasion you are ordering flowers for, have a conversation with your local florist. They know their flowers for all life’s occasions including birth months, anniversaries, sympathies, or just because. To help start the conversation use our Meaning of Flowers infosheet.
For more information on flower care, connect with your local Illinois Extension county office at go.illinois.edu/ExtensionOffice.
Answers
- Bouquet 1 – Valentine’s Day: Red (Love) & Pink (Grace & Admiration) Full Bloom Roses (I love you); Red (Declaration of love) & Striped Tulips (beautiful eyes); Baby’s Breath (lasting love)
- Bouquet 2 – Anti-Valentine’s: Red (my heart aches for you), Pink (I’ll never forget you), & Striped Carnations (no, I can’t be with you); Sweet Pea (goodbye); Yellow Rose (infidelity)
- Flower Display 3 – Mother’s Day: Snap Dragons (gracious lady); Red (love), & Pink (grace & admiration) Full Bloom Roses (I love you); Moss (maternal Love)
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As an enthusiast and expert in the language of flowers, also known as floriography, I bring a wealth of knowledge about the historical significance and cultural practices associated with conveying emotions through floral arrangements. My expertise is rooted in the understanding of how various flowers, their colors, and their arrangements can communicate specific messages, sentiments, and even secrets.
Floriography, as highlighted in the article, is the art of using flowers to express emotions and messages. This ancient practice has been prevalent throughout history, with the Victorian Era being a notable period for the elaborate use of flowers to convey sentiments that were often left unspoken. The Persian culture, among others, has also embraced the secret language of flowers.
The University of Illinois Extension Guide mentioned in the article, titled "The Meaning of Flowers," serves as a valuable resource for decoding the messages behind different floral arrangements. This guide likely delves into the symbolism associated with various flowers, enabling individuals to better understand the emotions conveyed by specific blooms.
The article emphasizes the importance of choosing the right flowers to express intended emotions accurately. It likens a bouquet to a sentence, with each flower representing a word or phrase contributing to the overall message. The author cautions readers about the potential mismatch between the intended message and the actual emotions conveyed by randomly picking a bouquet.
Luck, a theme discussed in the article, is symbolized by various flowers. The four-leaf clover is a well-known symbol of luck, but the Bells of Ireland have also been considered a symbol of good luck since Victorian times. Shamrocks are associated with good luck and fortune, while myrtle at a wedding symbolizes "good luck and love in a marriage."
The article provides examples of flower displays and challenges readers to decode their meanings using the University of Illinois Extension Guide. It highlights the importance of consulting with local florists, who possess in-depth knowledge about flowers for different occasions, including birthdays, anniversaries, sympathies, and more.
In summary, floriography is a fascinating language of flowers that has been utilized throughout history to convey emotions and messages. The University of Illinois Extension Guide serves as a practical tool for decoding the meanings behind various flowers, ensuring that the chosen blooms accurately express the intended sentiments.
