Last Sunday I was working away and needed the right flower. I grabbed Kate Greenaway’s Language of Flowers and ended up being totally distracted. This fascinating illustrated book lists over 500 flowers and plants and their traditional meanings. Flowers and plants were used in the Victorian era to express both positive and negative messages and feelings.
For today’s Thursday Thirteen I chose a few of the lovely, the odd and the downright strange:
- Alyssum, Sweet – Worth beyond beauty
- Celandine (Lesser) – Joys to come
- Everlasting Pea – Lasting pleasure
- Germander Speedwell– Facility
- Iceplant – Your looks freeze me
- King-cups – Desire of riches
- Mallow, Syrian – Consumed by love
- Oats – The witching soul of music
- Quince – Temptation
- Syringa – Memory
- Virginian Spiderwort – Momentary happiness
- White Rose, dried – Death preferable to loss of innocence
- Xanthium – Rudeness, Pertinacity
What is your favorite flower?
Kate Greenaway (1846–1901) English illustrator and watercolorist. She is famous for her fanciful, humorous, delicately colored drawings of child life. She influenced children’s clothing and the illustrating of children’s books and was often imitated, though never successfully. Among the books for which she provided text as well as illustrations are Under the Window (1879), A Day in a Child’s Life (1881), Kate Greenaway’s Birthday Album, and The Language of Flowers (1885). (Info.: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition)
Top Illustration: May Day, by Kate Greenaway
Photos:
Lilac – Majoros Attila
Dried White Rose – Lea Csontos
All Others – Wikipedia
babettejames.com 
Those are beautiful. I especially love the Ice Plant. 🙂 Happy Thursday! *hugs*
I could so easily see a bouquet being taken as an insult. Hmmmm… that could be fun.
I wish I could carry these pics around with me – I see so many of these around town, when I’m walking to work and stuff, but I never know what they are!
I don’t think I have a favorite flower, really. Honeysuckle has the best memories for me, but Lime Flower (I don’t know what they call it elsewhere, but that’s how Italians refer to it) smells like Tootsie Roll Pops! Imagine that, a night with the scent of Tootsie Roll Pops. Hee!
Ciao!
Happy TT!
Gorgeous. I had to do a ton of research about flowers for one MS, I was intrigued with not only their meanings, but their healing properties. Loved this post. Happy T13!
Oh, my fav flower is the blue rose.
Fun TT! I love flowers. Roses and hibiscus are probably my favorites!
*hugs*
Paige
My TT is at http://tinyurl.com/4zejcp
Mmmm. I don’t really have a favorite flower. I love Alyssum though.
I always love the symbolism of flowers but I never seem to get it right and have to look it up every time. I wonder what daisies mean?
Amber
http://ambergilchrist.wordpress.com/
Amber: Depending on which daisy, it could be Innocence, I share your sentiments, Farewell, Beauty or I will think of it.
I love the variety here!
http://talesfromthecrit.wordpress.com/
Tulips are always my favorite. And they do not make me sneeze, which is a bonus.
Hmm out of those I love 4, 10 and 11. Love flowers… too bad I don’t have a green thumb.
I love the smell of sweet alyssum.
Happy TT.
Janice~
Wow, you really do learn something new every day. I had no idea that all these flowers had such different meanings. I think of all flowers (I’m by no means an expert) the sunflower is my favorite.
I think I have that same book! Love the Iceplant and Xanthium. My personal favoorites are pink roses and daffodils – not to mention that “solitary” one I’m named after.
Glad to know about the language of flowers. You have posted wonderful picture of flowers on your blog that is appreciated.