The Language of Flowers

Flowers have their own language, they speak to us and for us.

We send flowers to say Happy Birthday, I love you, Get Well, I am Sorry, Farewell, I am thinking of you……..

Flowers can say all of this and more.

To a gardener a flower speaks for the plant, it tells him the plant is happy and he is doing a considerable  job.  A garden full of flowers is inviting, joyful and vibrant.

We use flowers to decorate and brighten our homes.   When I am having friends for dinner I purchase flowers to add emotion and warmth, as well as colour to the table.   We  fill our homes with flowers to say you are welcome here.  Flowers cheer us up.   I have been known to buy myself a bunch to be indulgent, as a self care practice.

Flowers speak in every language..

Flowers can connect us to a moment in time, a day, a memory, a person, a feeling.  They somehow hold our memories.

I watched last week as my Mum wistfully gazed at a vase of flowers she had been given for Mothers day.   My sister had cleverly bought white chrysanthemums, the wedding flower from Mum’s bouquet.  Mum saw me looking at them too and explained their significance.  She then began to speak of her wedding day, and for a moment she was taken back in time, she was that young girl again, clutching her bouquet and marrying the man of her dreams.   The flowers had spoken to her, they had taken her back to a momentous day.

Mothers Day Flower

Mum and Dad on their wedding day.

Now before I lead any of you astray and allow you to think I am some expert on flowers I will add final beautiful moment to this story.  I actually rang my Mum today to check on the name of the flower, research is what I call it.   My Dad answered the phone, Mum was out.  I asked if he knew the name of the flowers my sister had bought last week.  Immediately his tone softened and I could tell he remembered too.  “Oh our wedding flowers” he said, I know them, Chrysanthemums.  You see the flowers spoke to him and he was for a moment that dashing young man gazing longingly at his beautiful young bride, the girl of his dreams.

Do flowers hold memories for you?