The Complete Language of Flowers: A Definitive and Illustrated History - Pocket Edition

258 Pages·2022·181.782 MB·

by  S. Theresa Dietz

The
CO M P L E T E
L A N G U A G E
of
F LOW E R S

The
C O M P L E T E
L A N G U A G E
of
F L OW E R S
A Definitive and Illustrated History
S. THERESA DIETZ
© 2020 by S. Theresa Dietz
First published in 2020 by Wellfleet Press,
an imprint of The Quarto Group
142 West 36th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10018, USA
T [phone] F [phone]
www.Quarto.com
This edition published in 2022 by Wellfleet Press,
an imprint of The Quarto Group,
142 West 36th Street, 4th Floor,
New York, NY 10018, USA.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the copyright owners. All
images in this book have been reproduced with the knowledge and prior consent of the artists concerned, and no responsibility
is accepted by producer, publisher, or printer for any infringement of copyright or otherwise, arising from the contents of this
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10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
ISBN: 978-1-57715-283-5
Library of Congress Control Number: 2021948509

Group Publisher: Rage Kindelsperger
Creative Director: Laura Drew
Managing Editor: Cara Donaldson
Senior Editor: John Foster
Art Director: Cindy Samargia Laun
Cover Design: Andrea Ho
Interior Design: Laura Klynstra
Printed in China
This book provides general information on various widely known and widely accepted images that tend to evoke feelings of strength
and confidence. However, it should not be relied upon as recommending or promoting any specific diagnosis or method of treatment
for a particular condition, and it is not intended as a substitute for medical advice or for direct diagnosis and treatment of a medical
condition by a qualified physician. Readers who have questions about a particular condition, possible treatments for that condition, or
possible reactions from the condition or its treatment should consult a physician or other qualified healthcare professional.
Con t e n t s
!
Introduction 6
How to Use This Book 9
A G N U

11 95 147 223
B H O V
37 103 151 225
C I P W
45 113 157 233
D J Q X
73 119 181 235
E K R Y
83 121 183 235
F L S Z
89 123 195 235
M T
137 213
Works Consulted 238
Acknowledgments 240
About the Author 241
Photo Credits 242
Index of Common Flower Names
243
Index of Common Flower Meanings
255
introduction
!
his book intends to be an enjoyably attractive and informative reference book, consolidating
T
the diverse and occasionally contrary data gleaned with regard to this topic over the past two
decades. It was originally shared beyond myself with the intention and hope that it would
provide insight into the symbolism and potential power of certain trees, plants, and flowers, along with
their seeds, bark, roots, and derivatives.
There was a time when secret messages sent by way of a particularly considered choice in flowers
was considered in vogue. The Victorians were quite caught up in it. It was a method that was blissfully
romantic, as long as the same secret floral language book was used for selecting and decoding any
message. However, unfortunately, that was not always the case. The secretive messages were too often
scrambled. Hearts were broken. Melodramatic detours in life might have been the sad consequence
of misinterpretations due to opposing meanings of a particular flower in a small nosegay. Eventually,
messaging via cryptic nosegay notes fell out of favor.
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In any era, to be gifted any species of Rosa feels like the loving gesture it is most likely intended to
convey. Considering that, it is no wonder that Rosa—especially those that are red—is the number one
flower choice to gift on any Valentine’s Day. On the other hand, deliberately delivering dead flowers
to anyone conveys an opposite message, producing an opposite emotional response. In either case, the
unspoken and somewhat secret language of the flowers can be quite loud.
Long before the Victorians fancied nosegays for passing along flirtatious and often passionate
love notes, every major world religion had at least one specific plant they considered to be particularly
sacred. For example, in Judaism, Islam, Christianity, and Buddhism, the first plant symbol to be
solemnly honored is that of a tree. No one will ever know what might be the species of the Tree of
the Knowledge of Good and Evil that has been described to be in the Garden of Eden. Even so, the
symbolic star that is clearly evident within the cut fruit of Malus domestica (Orchard Apple) reveals
how it became the unofficial/quasi-official “Forbidden Fruit,” making such a lasting impression on its
usability that it acquired a rightful allocation as a valid and powerful element in magic.
We do know that for Buddha, there was a time in his spiritual development when he received
his revelation and enlightenment while meditating under a particular Ficus religiosa (Bodhi tree).
According to legend, although that particular tree is no longer standing, a cutting that was taken from
it has long survived. The power of both trees is still spiritually palpable and always will be: the clearly
visible and deeply meaningful along with the obviously invisible but still as deeply profound.
At any rate, considering the power of any plant is useful when designing a garden that coaxes
positive energy towards, around, into, and all throughout the home to enrich and protect it. It is equally
useful in pushing off and potentially blockading negative energy from interfering with your household.
With or without a garden of one’s own to cultivate, making floral selections that are pertinent and
personally meaningful is akin to wishing the event well with good luck and positive energies. This
is especially important when planning any flower-worthy special event, most notably with regard to
weddings and Quinceañeras.
One final note: In folk magic, the utilization of one particular plant over any other in any working
is dependent upon its ability to boost confidence in the possible inherent power of that plant. A
particular plant is selected over another that might not have the power that is desired for use in a
particular amulet, talisman, or spell. The plants and their derivatives are confidently selected because
time and practice have long proven them to be potent magical elements. For example, a plant as humble
and widely accessible as a small common Taraxacum officinale (Dandelion) puff has been successfully
utilized by the very young to the very old in the making of big wishes for generations, a practice that I
see no reason not to continue on into the distant future.
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How to
Use This
Book
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