Introduction to the secret language of flowers

"We don’t see the light itself, we only see the effects it has on objects. We are aware of its existence only because it is partially reflected by whatever it encounters on its path, making visible what would otherwise remain unseen. In this way, a void illuminated by another void becomes something to us. The same is true for sentences and words: they have no meaning in themselves, but if they meet someone who listens, they become something." This is how linguist Andrea Moro writes in Parlo dunque sono. Language is not made up only of words, there are thousands of ways to say something, from images to gestures and even silences. It is we who assign meaning, creating connections between signifiers and signifieds. What many may not know is that during the Victorian era, a secret code was born, one that still exists today. We’re talking about the language of flowers: a 19th-century code used to create bouquets that conveyed messages between lovers and suitors.

Every flower has a meaning

According to a study conducted by Google Arts & Culture in collaboration with the RHS Lindley Library - which houses the world’s finest collection of horticultural literature as well as important art and botanical archives -every flower holds a meaning, and the choice of combinations of different species can result in true declarations. In 1819, French author Charlotte de la Tour was the first to catalog and assign meanings to over 300 specific flowers. From Great Britain to North America, illustrated books spread widely, entertaining a young female audience so much that some connections between plants, flowers, and words became diluted. As the author explained, "Roman Catholic symbols were usually removed, so the passionflower could signify 'superstition' instead of faith."

Horticultural terms worth remembering

For years, interest in the secret language of flowers seemed to have faded, until recently. Just think of the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, who chose flowers based on their meaning when creating her wedding bouquet. Her arrangement included: Sweet William (Gallantry), Lily of the Valley (Return of happiness), Ivy (Fidelity), Hyacinths (Constancy), and Myrtle (the emblem of marriage and love). We get it, you’d love to leaf through one of those old books, imagining yourself reading it inside a Bridgerton-style court. Sadly, lavish dresses and braided updos won’t be enough, it’s time to take notes. Have you ever wondered about the meaning of the flowers you give your partner or loved ones, or do you just go with your gut? Do you consider yourself a connoisseur when it comes to matching plants and flowers to specific occasions? And no, we’re not just talking about chrysanthemums for a funeral. If your answer is no, here are some pairings from the Victorian Code worth remembering:

• White Acacia: friendship
• Yellow Acacia: secret love
• Green Aloe: bitterness
• Green Ash: “I love only you”
• Yellow Aster: reconsideration
• Azaleas: first love, temperance
• Cornflower: celibacy, hope, blessed solitude
• Red Bellflower: gratitude
• Pink Bells of Ireland: good luck
• Green Birch: grace, elegance
• Yellow Buttercup: wealth, childhood memories
• Pink Carnation: “I will never forget you”
• Yellow Carnation: disdain
• White Clematis: mental beauty
• Red Heuchera: sea voyage
• Daffodil: unrequited love, regard, chivalry
• Common White Daisy: “I will think of it”
• White September Aster: farewell
• Red Elderberry: compassion
• Scarlet Geranium: “let’s dance”
• Dark Pink Geranium: melancholy
• Green Heliotrope: devotion
• White Hollyhock: fertility
• Lilac: first feelings of love, remembrance
• Pink Peony: shame, shyness
• Pink Petunia: “do not despair”
• Yellow Rose: waning love, jealousy
• Red Tulip: love declaration
• Peach Blossom: “I am your prisoner”

@curatorialjes i’m not joking when i say EVERY single flower had a specific meaning and it was applied in paintings & real life. #foryou #victorianera #preraphaelite #arthistory #arthistorytok #symbolism #languageofflowers #museums original sound -

The legend you didn't know you needed about the cactus

Oftentimes, behind what seems like a simple plant for our shelf hides a past steeped in myth and legend. The cactus, for instance, carries a message of passionate and intense love: “I burn for you.” Legend has it that the spines of the cactus are hard to remove from the skin, just as the flames of Cupid are hard to extinguish from the heart. And it’s not the only tale tied to flowers.

The German legend of the Forget-Me-Not (myosotis)

The most widespread story takes place on the banks of the Danube River during the Middle Ages, where a young couple in love was strolling along the riverbank. The girl noticed a beautiful blue flower with a delicate shape, growing on a small island in the middle of the current, difficult to reach. The knight, eager to fulfill the girl’s wish, jumped in to pick the flower. However, because of the weight of his armor, the strong current swept him away. As he was pulled under by the waters, he managed to throw the little bouquet he had picked toward his beloved, whispering his final words: "Vergiss mein nicht!" ("Forget me not!"). Heartbroken, the girl kept the flowers with her forever as a token of remembrance and eternal love for her lost knight. From then on, the blue flower was named Forget-Me-Not and became a universal symbol of fidelity, eternal love, and remembrance.

The French legend of the Pansy (Viola del Pensiero)

One flower full of history and symbolism is without a doubt the pansy. Some even suggest it may have Arab origins, due to its similarity with a fragrant flower known as Kheyry, possibly an ancestor or related species. Among the most captivating legends is the French one, which says that if you observe the pansy’s petals closely, you can glimpse the face of your beloved. This belief makes the flower a powerful symbol of romantic love, inspiring poets and writers. Shakespeare himself, in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, wrote: "Pansy is what the maidens call it... Its juice, dropped on sleeping eyelids, will make a man or woman fall madly in love with whatever creature they first see." Thus, the flower represents romantic love tinged with nostalgia.