MAGNOLIA – Nobility, Perseverance The window is open and a warm, delicious little breeze comes wandering in. It smells of magnolias and dogwood and it whispers in our ears enticing little stories of gurgling brooks and cool woods. Yes, we have got spring fever and got it bad. ~Country Life, June 1922 #fleur #fleurs #flowers #magnolia #southernliving #southerner #parks #parkcities …
April
He walked in the door from the back yard and says “I love you Muffin”, hands me this little bouquet of wildflowers….#blessed Thoughtfulness and kindness are everything Y’all Her fairies climb the bare, brown trees,And set green caps on every stalk;Her primroses peep bashfullyFrom borders of the garden walk,And in the reddened maple topsHer blackbird gossips sit and talk.~Hannah R. …
Red Ranuncula
My ranuncula bloomed this morning. As my husband said, its so beautiful it almost looks fake lol 70+ degrees here today Y’all, what a wonderful change! February is merely as long as is needed to pass the time until March. ~J.R. Stockton Color PsychologyRed is the color of energy, passion and actionThe color red is a warm and positive color …
Winter Blues
PANSY – #tussiemussie Merriment, Thoughts (You Occupy My Thoughts) Seat of my youth! thy distant spireRecalls each scene of joy;My bosom glows with former fire,In mind again a boy.Each flower a double fragrance flings;Again, as once, in converse gay,Each associate seems to say,“Friendship is Love without his wings!” George Gordon, Lord Byron (1788-1824) #fleur #flower #gardens #green #gardener #gardeners #jardin …
Beautiful
So many people who believe that their only loveable if they fit into someone else’s mold. Not true. So many people have lacked love and acceptance by others who were supposed to love and accept them. Do you know you are beautiful? Do you know your beautiful? You are…. “Beautiful” If you can dependOn certaintyCount it out and weigh it …
A Garden In Winter
The simplicity of winter has a deep moral. The return of Nature, after such a career of splendor and prodigality, to habits so simple and austere, is not lost either upon the head or the heart. It is the philosopher coming back from the banquet and the wine to a cup of water and a crust of bread. ~John Burroughs, …
Bleu’ Alchemy Summer
“Heaven On Earth” From the time I was a little girl, I loved to be outside. Spring was one of my favorite times of the year! Having grown up in a small Midwest town in Quincy, Illinois, Winters seemed exceptional long and especially cold. The intermittent years that would grace us with beautiful snowfalls covering the ground in which we …
Violet In All Her Glory
As you might have guessed, I have a voracious appetite for all things beautiful, vintage and sensual. My most recent obsession is with Violet whose botanical name is Viola Odorata or Viola Tricolor. Her English names are purple violet, garden violet, sweet violet, pansy, heart’s ease, jump-up, three color violet, trinity violet, wild pansy and butterfly violet. Violets presence in …
The Victorian Tussie Mussie – Floriography
For centuries, flowers, herbs and various plants have given much pleasure to people of all the nations, because their beauty has the unique ability to bring cheer when someone is ill or downhearted, their fragrances can be used to make lovely perfumes, delicate foliage can be used for certain medicines and foods, and pungent smells can bestir mood.
In fact, they have been so outstanding in this regard, that there is no wonder that mankind has attached significant meanings to them, actually going as far as to formulate a language all their own called “floriography.” This language was particularly utilized during the Victorian era; however, flowers well into past generations have had religious and symbolic meanings, and still do today.
For example, there were references given to flowers, herbs and plants in Biblical times, and during the Middle Ages, herbs were even believed by some to have magical powers. Therefore, they were given a place of honor in the royal floral gardens. The use of these floral gardens existed well into the Victorian era, and helped to create the elaborate list of meanings to describe these beloved flowers.
History relates that during the reign of Queen Victoria in England, which lasted from 1837 to 1901, (known as the Victorian era) the language of flowers was as important to people as being well dressed. For example the recognizable scent of a particular flower, plant or perhaps a scented handkerchief sent its own unique message.
Flowers adorned almost everything, hair, clothing, jewelry, gowns, men’s lapels, home décor and china, and stationery, to name a few. A young man could either please or displease a lady by his gift of flowers. Flowers would convey messages of love or dislike depending upon which ones were given, their sizes how they were held, or also grouped together. They had a silent meaning of their very own, and could say what was not dared to be spoken. Even the manner in which flowers were sent had a special meaning. A flower presented in an upright position represented a positive thought; whereas one presented in the opposite direction had a negative meaning. Also, a person could say “yes” by offering a flower with the right hand, the left hand “no.”
Dictionaries were written to explain this language to all, and were especially used by lovers. One could learn that “ROSES” symbolized love, in general but each variety and color had their own meaning. The “LILY” generally symbolized beauty, but it also has many varieties, thus many diversified meanings. Consider the quandary that could have developed if lover’s used two different dictionaries, with each possibly having its own connotation. There could be some real misunderstandings! So we see the importance of acquiring accurate information in this regard.
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