When I was young I found a Hallmark card organizer at a yard sale. Inside was a list of some of the more common flowers and their meanings. While I certainly don't only choose flowers for their meaning, I have been fascinated by the Victorian practice of crafting a bouquet to have a specific meaning ever since finding that Hallmark list.
Now you probably know that a red rose is a symbol of love, but did you know that there's an entire language of flowers? I thought I'd share a few blooms that would make more unique choices for Valentine's Day this year.
Tulips. In a shade of red, a tulip symbolizes perfect love, making it a great choice for your love on Valentine's Day. Tulips are also more affordable than red roses, and bring a welcome touch of spring at this time of the year. I've never been much of a rose person, so I'd take tulips any day over roses.
Ranunculus. In any color, ranunculus symbolize captivation, or being 'dazzled'. One of my favorite flowers, ranunculus come in a huge range of colors, usually cost less than $10 per bunch, and are one of the first blooms of the spring so they're usually easy to find around this time.
Yellow roses. Like I said, I've never been much of a rose person, but spray roses, especially once they've opened up, can be really beautiful, and since they have a milder scent than long stemmed or wild roses, they are a good choice for someone who is sensitive to fragrance. A yellow rose, of any variety, symbolizes friendship and joy- a perfect way to show a close friend a little love- after all, Valentine's Day isn't just for couples.
Want to get a little more creative? Try crafting a bouquet to say just what you mean. This arrangement I made would be perfect for revealing to someone that you care about them, since ranunculus say 'you're captivating' and a maiden hair fern expresses secret love.
If you're interested in learning more about what flowers are saying, there are a number of websites with some of the more common flowers listed, like Teleflora's. I also discovered a beautiful book by Mandy Kirby- The Language of Flowers: A Miscellany- a wonderful resource with lovely illustrations on the subject.
Now you probably know that a red rose is a symbol of love, but did you know that there's an entire language of flowers? I thought I'd share a few blooms that would make more unique choices for Valentine's Day this year.
Ranunculus. In any color, ranunculus symbolize captivation, or being 'dazzled'. One of my favorite flowers, ranunculus come in a huge range of colors, usually cost less than $10 per bunch, and are one of the first blooms of the spring so they're usually easy to find around this time.
If you're interested in learning more about what flowers are saying, there are a number of websites with some of the more common flowers listed, like Teleflora's. I also discovered a beautiful book by Mandy Kirby- The Language of Flowers: A Miscellany- a wonderful resource with lovely illustrations on the subject.
