The Hidden Messages of Flowers
Throughout time, flowers have been a symbol of emotion, and used to communicate thoughts and feelings when simple words just don’t suffice. Flowers are often sent to celebrate good news, to offer condolences during times of loss, or simply to let another person know he is loved and appreciated. In this way, florists are the silent messengers of the world, skilled in putting together a beautiful bouquet that will help you get to the heart of the feelings you wish to convey to another.
Back in the Victorian era, the selection of flowers available was far more limited, and it was commonplace for people to send flowers to one another to communicate a non-verbal message. Since each flower had a handful of meanings, it was often up to the recipient to determine exactly which was the most applicable, in order to decode the message being sent. In this way, messages passed from one person to another were not able to be easily intercepted, and commonplace events such as secret trysts, long-standing grudges, and infidelities were able to be hidden behind the most ordinary of symbols—the flower.
Although many florists today are well-educated in the historical meanings of flowers, most of them have fallen into disuse. While red roses are still the traditional gift of love and passion, they are also used to express congratulations, to commemorate a special event, or simply to say “I’m thinking of you”. The meaning of a particular flower or bouquet comes more from the flower itself and the artistry of the florist; smell, touch, and sight all contribute to the strong emotional reaction many people have to receiving flowers, and a well-designed bunch of blossoms will not only delight the senses, but deliver a message to the recipient.
With technology bringing the world closer together, the options for florists have become far less limited. It’s become a much easier process to obtain a particular bloom from another part of the country, or even from overseas. The handful of flowers known to the Victorians has literally become a worldwide catalogue of thousands, giving both florists and consumers more options for self-expression. Times may change fairly rapidly, but the popularity of flowers has never waned, and shows no sign of doing so anytime soon. While not many things in life remain constant, a bloom is worth more than a thousand words.
