When A Flower is Worth a Thousand Words: FLORIOGRAPHY

Honoring personal sentiment using the Victorian language of communicating with flowers.

“Flowers and fruits are always fit presents; flowers, because they are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty out values all the utilities of the world.”

― Ralph Waldo Emerson

Our souls seek the understanding of circumstance and cherish the recognition of emotion. Elation derived from accomplishment, sorrow borne from grief, connection created through friendship, love kindled by passion are a sampling of the natural rhythms of life that seek acknowledgement; in some circumstances celebratory, while others inviting comfort. Determining a response that is bespoke in nature may in some instances be best conveyed not through the written or spoken word, but instead through the symbolism found within a gesture or gift. Tracing to ancient history, bequeathing floral treasures has adeptly satisfied this task. The pure beauty derived from color and shape of each varietal intuitively shares the sender’s intent, yet the evolution of civilization has cultivated detailed assigned meanings. Of relevance to modern Western culture, the Victorian era assigned specific definitions to individual stems to create a subtle language for a solution when society was more discreet. Much of the symbolism remains intact today and tucked within the petals and stems of God’s abounding floral garden contains a language rich with meaning called Floriography,

Floriography, the “language of flowers” was a discreet response to the confines of an era that limited the personal expression of emotion. It was a welcome channel to communicate sentiment using assigned meanings of varietals, colors, and even number of flowers. The dictionary of Floriography was detailed and expansive and held the messages society desired to share between individuals. The residual affect is a legacy of definitions that remain intact today- an elegant red rose in full bloom as a symbol of love ,while the same in white as a symbol of purity; an eye catching poppy honoring those that have passed before us; and one can now understand why the strategically placed bouquet of winter mistletoe was eagerly anticipated as an invitation for affection.

Ultimately, sharing the gift of flowers must speak from the giver to the soul of the recipient. Floriography establishes a baseline, particularly in the instances of unfamiliarity, but it no longer holds hard set rules because today we are afforded more luxuries to share our feelings openly, sans the confinement of societal decorum. When gifting flowers, one should account for the personality and lifestyle of the intended to guide their selection not only in varietal, but also within the vessel or vase that holds them. Each instance is unique- alleviating and acknowledging the pain from loss may be welcomed with a colorful bounty inspired by the freedom found in a whimsical French country bouquet placed in a stoneware pitcher, while romantic love might be best shared from the subtlety found in a mixed arrangement consisting of a white and green palette resting in the simplicity of a clear vase. The importance of the gesture is to always consider if the intent is effectively conveyed and is prompting the warmth of joyful emotion. It is because of the sheer perfection of beauty innate to flowers that we are provided a generous opportunity to spread universal love to those surrounding us.