Floriography, The Myths, Magic & Language of Flowers

We enjoy flowers year-round for their beauty, fragrance, and mood-lifting properties. They are the perfect gift to brighten one’s day, be offered as an apology, or to show sympathy in times of need. We all have certain flowers that we dearly love and have an emotional attachment to. Some we love because of the color or shape, others because of their aromatic scent, and still others because they evoke fond memories. But still, some flowers will automatically be associated with an event, an emotion, a myth, or even a remedy. Floriography, The Myths, Magic & Language of Flowers delves into the meanings of 50 beloved flowers sharing where they originate be it ancient mythology or hedgerow folklore!

My mother had a penchant for floral names, so my sister and I both got named after her favorite plants. I personally have never met anyone with the name Lilac and they do happen to be one of my favorite flowers. I’ve never dived into the flower’s meaning, so it was interesting to learn how the flower played a role in various cultures.

Did you know that Lily of the Valley has been associated with a holy man and a dragon? Want to know how the four-leaf clover became viewed as a lucky object? Want to know what flower was used in a love potion to make Queen Titiana fall in love with the first creature she sees upon waking? Folklore has it that fairies take shelter in Anemone flowers. They close up the petals and fall asleep within its fragrant shelter.

Other flowers covered within these pages are the Wattle, Iris, Violet, Tulip, Lotus, Daisy, Edelweiss, Forget-me-not, Wisteria, Bluebell and many more. Each flower has a surprising bit of history and folklore that only adds to its beauty.