Did you know that the lovely bouquet you’re eying in the florist shop could actually contain a secret message?
Well, not today, maybe. These days, a rose is just a rose. But in the Victorian era, young people would use the commonly accepted meanings of flowers to express their feelings for each other. (Pity the poor suitor who didn’t know that yellow tulips meant “hopeless love” or that snapdragons meant “deception or presumption”!)
Here are a few of our authors’ favorite flowers and their corresponding Victorian symbolism.
Becky Wade: Geraniums
Kimberley Woodhouse: Tulips
Jen Turano and Elizabeth Camden: Sunflowers
Ann Tatlock: Violets
Melissa Tagg: Daisies
Nancy Mehl: Irises
Ann Mateer: Gardenias
Meaning: You’re lovely, secret love
Regina Jennings: Zinnias
Meaning: Thoughts of absent friends
Dee Henderson, Leslie Gould, Kate Breslin: Roses
Mary Connealy: Daffodils
Here’s a fun idea: Look at the meanings of certain flowers and think of friends who fit that description perfectly. Then buy seed packets of those flowers and mail them to your friends with a note about why this particular flower and meaning made you think of them. (Zinnias are always good for a “Thinking of You” card!)
What’s your favorite flower, and what does it mean? (There are some variations in meaning from place to place, but most of these I found here and here.)