Language of Flowers

Every flower has its unique, silent meaning – a message waiting to be conveyed. Dictionaries have been written to decode the expressions and intentions of flowers, beginning in the Victorian era when women poured over these dictionaries to determine what a suitor meant, or didn’t mean, by his gift and arrangement of specific flowers.

In early spring I read The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh, just as the city was blooming. This moving story follows a haunted young woman through her past and present as she uses her special gift for flowers as a way of communicating and connecting with the world and the people around her.

As I journeyed further with this character, learning of flowers with and through her, I found myself paying more notice to the flowers I came across – while walking, at the store, in my own backyard. I became enamored with the idea and intention behind what already visually could evoke such emotion. We’ve all heard that red roses represent love and romance, but what about the simple daisies scattered about the grass? The Queen Anne’s Lace in our neighbor’s yard? These curiosities have caused me to open my eyes wider, to look deeper. On my walk last night, I collected a few flowers and thought I’d share some of their meanings with you.

Be sure to notice the beauty around you and look around when you go on your summer walk. You may just find a color you never discovered before! Also, take a look at some of our own flower inspired shades like Hyacinth, Zinnia, Lily, Lilac, and our limited edition shade Orchid.