This is for the participants in my class today at Bradley University's OLLI program.
January - Carnation
- General - Fascination
- Pink – I'll never forget you
- Red- Admiration (My Heart Breaks)
- Purple – Capriciousness (fickle)
- White – Sweet and lovely, innocence, love
- Yellow – Disdain
- Solid – Yes
- Striped – I cannot be with you
- February – Violet
- Symbol of modesty & humility
- Blue – Faithfulness
March - Daffodil
- Regard
- Unequaled love
- The sun is always shining when I'm with you
- Send armful to valued friend to brighten their day
April – Sweet Pea
- Goodbye
- Blissful pleasure
- Delicate pleasures
- Thank you for lovely time
May – Lily of the Valley
- Return to happiness
- Sweetness
- Tears of Virgin Mary
- Humility
June - Rose
- Emblem of Love!
- Colors of the Rose
- Red – Love
- Pink – Grace, Admiration
- Peach - Modesty
- White – Purity, secrecy
- Burgundy – Unconscious beauty
- Purple – Enchantment
- Orange - Fascination
- Yellow – Infidelity
Arranging the Rose
- Single stem – Simplicity
- In full bloom – "I Love You"
- Bouquet in full bloom – Gratitude
- Rosebud – Young and beautiful
- Two roses – Engagement
- Red and white - Unity
July – Larkspur
- Lightness
- Cottage garden flower
- In many garden paintings
August - Gladiolus
- Give me a break
- I'm really sincere
- Flower of the gladiators
September - Aster
- Symbol of love
- Daintiness
- Patience
October – Calendula (marigold)
- Cruelty
- Grief
- Jealousy
November - Chrysanthemum
- Truth
- Red – I love you
- White – Truth
- Yellow – Slighted love
December - Narcissus
- Egotism
- Stay sweet
Special Occasion Flowers
- Weddings
- Lilies – chastity, innocence, purity
- Rose petals on aisle
- Twining plants – devotion and attachment
- Baby's breath – everlasting love
- Fern – sincerity
Funerals
- Colors
- White – purity
- Red – deep love
- Blue – peace, heaven
- Types
- Forget me not – remembrance
- Lilies - Life
- Orchids – beauty
- gladioli– strong character
Tussie-Mussie
- Small hand bouquet
- Old English origin meaning "a knot of flowers"
- Composition
- Herb to cover odors
- Flowers to say ...
- Leaves to frame
- Doily and ribbons to tie together
- Handwritten note
References Used
- "A Victorian Flower Dictionary" by Mandy Kirkby
- "Who Named the Daisy, Who Named the Rose" by Mary Durant
- AboutFlowers.com
- "The Language of Flowers" from Iowa State University