The importance of flowers

Flowers are often associated with many important occasions providing significance in sight and smell at various times of our lives. Our memories of family and friends from the past, can often be related to a smell that we connected them with, such as floral perfume.

Through out our history, flowers have played an important part in how we show we care for someone, from various flowers signifying a new relationship, engagement right through to weddings and when we finally say goodbye to our loved ones.

Understanding the meaning behind flowers can add even more enjoyment, as we decide which flower, - card, gift to give someone.

I always enjoy asking people what their favourite flower is, and why they particularly like them.

We will be looking at some of the meanings behind flowers known as 'the language of flowers', to give you suggestions for perfect personalised cards for your friends, collegues or family members.

Many florists display varying meanings behind flowers to help their customers choose the ideal bouquet.  In order to help you choose a card we will look at the history, the meaning and significance of popular flowers. If you are a business and would like to have a flower that links in with your aims and objectives of your business, please contact us.

The Victorian era has always been strongly linked with the language of flowers, mainly focusing on love, but the meaning of flowers goes back to even earlier times than this; with strong religious, cultural, and symbolic meanings.

There are though many differences in the symbology and meanings of flowers between eastern and western philosophies. Eastern flower meanings tend to be closely related to living a long life, prosperity, wisdom … for example, the oriental symbology of the blossom from the early flowering trees such as the cherry tree, are very important in Japan as it represents the cycle of life.

Victorian women elaborated on floriography (the language of flowers), expressing their feelings within the boundaries of social etiquette. Flowers were often used to get their silent message across, by communicating their feelings and thoughts when ordinarily they were unable or not allowed to do so.

As well as the particular meaning of a flower, the scent was also an important factor. If a floral scent could be detected on a ladies handkerchief by the person she wanted to relay a particular message to, it would further their silent conversation.

The whole theatrics of the art of this particular communication, could also be changed by how the flower was displayed. If the flower was upright or upside down, the message meant that the secret meaning was either positive or negative. Ribbons were also used and depending on how they were tied, displayed another hidden message.

Considerations had to be made about the type of flower, the way the flower was worn, the colour and scent, as they all played an important part.

If you were waiting for a reply from a certain message, it could be answered in the following manner, if a flower was given to you from their right hand the answer was yes, if it was from their left hand that meant no.