Flower Symbols: The Language of Love
Discover the Meaning of Flowers in Folklore, Religion and Popular Culture
112 pages, $12.95
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ON THE FRONT COVER
Cover art, Lilies in the Sun and Wind, by Kathleen Karlsen. The calla lily represents the ascension to heaven in Christian iconography. This painting was created in honor of a dear friend when she moved on to other realms after a long life of joy and service to others.
FROM THE BACK COVER
ABOUT FLOWER SYMBOLISM
Flowers accompany us in nearly every major event in life: birth, graduation, marriage, holidays, illness and death. In addition, flower images adorn practically everything around us: hair, clothing, jewelry, china, stationary, wallpaper, furniture, artwork and more. Understanding the folklore, meanings, facts, stories and legends about the amazing world of flowers adds a fascinating new dimension to nearly every aspect of life.
Flower symbolism has been a significant part of virtually every culture around the world since antiquity. Flower symbolism reached the highest level of development in the Victorian era. Due to the strict protocol of the times, emotions, wishes and thoughts were not openly expressed between men and women. Instead, an elaborate language of love based on flower symbolism was born.
This book was created from materials gathered over the course of over ten years of personal study. The information in this book is ideal for designers, educators, decorators, artists and anyone with an interest in nature, symbols and psychology.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kathleen Karlsen, MA is an artist and freelance writer who has authored over two hundred articles. Her areas of expertise include symbolism, personal growth, spirituality, natural health, and fine art. Kathleen has a bachelor's degree in studio art and a masters degree in humanities. She lives in Bozeman, Montana with her husband Andrew and their five children.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of Contents
1 Symbolism of the World’s Favorite Flowers.....1
2 Find Flowers By Their Meanings........................27
3 Meaning of Flower Names..................................35
4 More About Popular Flowers..............................43
5 Flower Color Meanings.......................................71
6 Mary Garden Flower Symbolism.......................75
7 Flowers in Art and Decor.....................................83
8 Selected Wildflowers: History and Lore..........91
9 Healing with Flowers.........................................101
EXCERPT FROM THE FIRST CHAPTER
Since antiquity, flower symbolism has been a significant part of cultures around the world. Flowers accompany us in every major event in life: birth, holidays, graduations, marriage, illness, and, finally, death. Flowers have been grown in decorative gardens and used as adornment for centuries on virtually every continent on earth. Finding the right flower to give to someone you love is an art. And make sure to include a note about the symbolic meaning of the flower!
Flower symbolism began with ancient religions. Many flowers were originally linked to deities including Venus, Diana, Jupiter and Apollo. During the Renaissance, nature was viewed as a reflection of the divine. Flower symbolism was included in much of the religious art of the day and medieval gardens were often created with both the symbolic meaning of flowers and spiritual symbolism in mind. Flower symbols were used in the religious art of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, and later reached the highest level of development in the Victorian era.
Although the legendary associations and religious meanings of flower symbolism have existed for centuries, the use of the symbolic meaning of flowers to represent emotions was developed to a high degree during Victorian times. Due to the strict protocol of the times, emotions, wishes and thoughts were not openly expressed between men and women. Instead, an elaborate language based on flower symbolism was developed. Gifts of either single flowers or bouquets conveyed clear messages to the recipient. During this era, flowers adorned nearly everything: hair, clothing, jewelry, home decor, china plates, stationary, wallpaper, furniture and more. Even the scents of flowers had their own meanings. For example, a scented handkerchief might be given in place of actual flowers....
