floriography an illustrated guide to the victorian language of flowers

'Flowers, as gifts or for special occasions, can be all the more thoughtful when using the language of flowers. An understanding of flowers' meanings, however, can help us progress from the simplicity of sending a bouquet based on only its beauty to tapping into a deeper and more nuanced emotional intimacy. We might not perceive certain stems as positive or negative as the Victorians did, but we do still know that certain blooms better suit certain occasions. The tradition of floriography has always been there, but these days is a shadow of its former self – many know that a bouquet of roses symbolises romance, for example, but few know why. Such poignant personalisation is part of a cultural foundation we all share. It was only by analysing the stems that the breadth of his emotions could be better understood. To the uninformed, the wreath stood alone as a symbol of familial grief, its meaning derived from its presence not its substance.

Bound by a tradition that is steeped in keeping emotions concealed, he expressed his sense of loss through his choice of blooms myrtle for love and prosperity, paired with English oak to represent strength. One of the most prominent examples of recent floriography is King Charles's choice of funeral wreath for his mother, the late Queen.

The vintage French style resonating now According to the Royal Horticultural Society, it's a practice that dominated Victorian culture in England and the US, and, despite being largely forgotten for decades, is steadily gaining popularity once more. Through the art of floriography, a coded means of communication more commonly referred to as the language of flowers, emotional intimacy has been allowed to flourish where it may otherwise be repressed. When we wish to convey our affection, joy or condolences, and words won't suffice, we rely on their beauty.

Flowers have a longstanding tradition as a means of emotional expression.

Floriography an illustrated guide to the victorian language of flowers