Alstroemeria-Today,
this popular flower can be found in a range of colors – from
white to golden yellow, orange to apricot, pink to red, lavender
and purple. Symbolizing friendship and devotion, the
alstroemeria’s leaves grow upside down, with the leaf twisting
as it grows out from the stem, so that the bottom is facing
upwards – much like the twists, turns and growth of our
friendships.
Anthurium-With
their open, heart-shaped flowers and tropical disposition, it’s
no wonder that anthurium have come to symbolize hospitality.
Bird
of paradise- Bearing an
unmistakable resemblance to a brightly colored bird in flight,
bird of paradise are native to south Africa and represent
joyfulness and (not surprisingly) paradise itself. Bird of
Paradise are the 9th wedding anniversary flower.
Carnation-
Today, carnations can be found in a wide range of colors, and
while in general they express love, fascination and distinction,
virtually every color carries a unique and rich association.
White carnations suggest pure love and good luck, light red
symbolizes admiration, while dark red represents deep love and
affection. Purple carnations imply capriciousness, and pink
carnations carry the greatest significance, beginning with the
belief that they first appeared on earth from the Virgin Mary’s
tears – making them the symbol of a mother’s undying love.
Chrysanthemum-
They’re the November birth flower, the 13th wedding anniversary
flower and the official flower of the city of Chicago. A symbol
of the sun, the Japanese consider the orderly unfolding of the
chrysanthemum’s petals to represent perfection, and Confucius
once suggested they be used as an object of meditation. It’s
said that a single petal of this celebrated flower placed at the
bottom of a wine glass will encourage a long and healthy life.
Daffodil-Symbolizing
rebirth and new beginnings, the daffodil is virtually synonymous
with spring. The March birth flower and the 10th wedding
anniversary flower, a gift of daffodils is said to ensure
happiness. But always remember to present daffodils in a bunch –
the same legends that associate this cheerful flower with good
fortune warn us that when given as a single bloom, a daffodil
can foretell misfortune.
Larkspur
/ delphinium- The July birth
flower, these lush, dolphin-shaped flowers symbolize an open
heart and ardent attachment and convey a feeling of lightness
and levity. Used by Native Americans and European settlers to
make blue dye, it’s believed that the most ancient use of
delphinium flowers was for driving away scorpions.
Hydrangea-
With its wooden stems and lacy, star-shaped flowers packed
closely together in a pompom, the hydrangea’s color ranges from
white to blue to pink and purple, determined by the acidity
level of the soil. There remains some debate over the
hydrangea’s symbolism – with some connecting it to vanity and
boastfulness (perhaps reflecting its abundance of petals and
lavish, rounded shape) and others suggesting that a bouquet of
hydrangea expresses the giver’s gratefulness for the recipient’s
understanding. Still others suggest it represents anything
that’s sincerely heartfelt. Despite this variation in flower
meaning, there appears to be an overwhelming consensus that this
4th wedding anniversary flower possesses enduring grace and
beauty.
Iris-
The February birth flower, the 25th wedding anniversary flower
and the state flower of Tennessee, the iris’s three upright
petals are said to symbolize faith, valor and wisdom.
Lily-
Lilies are known to be the May birth flower, and the 30th
wedding anniversary flower. While white lilies symbolize
chastity and virtue – and were the symbol of the Virgin Mary’s
purity and her role of Queen of the Angels – as other varieties
became popular, they brought with them additional meanings and
symbolism as well. Peruvian lilies, or alstroemeria, represent
friendship and devotion, white stargazer lilies express sympathy
and pink stargazer lilies represent wealth and prosperity.
Symbolizing humility and devotion, lilies of the valley are the
2nd wedding anniversary flower. As the flowers most often
associated with funerals, lilies symbolize that the soul of the
departed has received restored innocence after death.
Lisianthus-
With wide ruffled, delicate petals and oval leaves, in colors
ranging from white to pink, lavender to purple and bicolors such
as blue-violet, it’s said that lisianthus also symbolize
appreciation.
Orchid-The
most highly coveted of ornamental plants, the delicate, exotic
and graceful orchid represents love, luxury, beauty and
strength. In ancient Greece, orchids were associated with
virility. today this sense of magnificence and artful splendor
continues, with orchids representing rare and delicate beauty.
The 14th wedding anniversary flower, pink orchids convey pure
affection, and the popular cattelya orchid represents mature
charm.
Peony-
The traditional floral symbol of China, the state flower of
Indiana, and the 12th wedding anniversary flower, peonies are
known as the flower of riches and honor. With their lush, full,
rounded bloom, peonies embody romance and prosperity and are
regarded as an omen of good fortune and a happy marriage.
Poinsettia- While considered by the ancient Aztecs to be symbols
of purity, in today's language of flowers, red, white or pink
poinsettias, the December birth flower, symbolize good cheer and
success and are said to bring wishes of mirth and celebration.
Rose-
Long a symbol of love and passion, the ancient Greeks and Romans
associated roses with Aphrodite and Venus, goddesses of love.
Used for hundreds of years to convey messages without words,
they also represent confidentiality. In fact, the Latin
expression "sub rosa"(literally, "under the rose") means
something told in secret, and in ancient Rome, a wild rose was
placed on the door to a room where confidential matters were
being discussed. Each color offers a distinct meaning: red, the
lover’s rose, signifies enduring passion; white, humility and
innocence; yellow, expressing friendship and joy; pink,
gratitude, appreciation and admiration; orange, enthusiasm and
desire; white lilac and purple roses represent enchantment and
love at first sight. The number of stems in a rose bouquet can
also express specific sentiments. The June birth flower and the
15th wedding anniversary flower, roses are also the national
flower of the United States and the state flower of Georgia,
Iowa, New York, North Dakota and the District of Columbia. And,
not surprisingly, June – the month so often associated with
weddings – is National Rose Month.
Snapdragon-
It’s said that the common name for this colorful flower comes
from the snap it makes when the sides of the “dragon’s mouth”
are gently squeezed. Legend has it that concealing a snapdragon
makes a person appear fascinating and cordial, and in the
language of flowers, snapdragons are said to represent both
deception (perhaps tied to the notion of concealment) and
graciousness.
Statice-
With a misty and seafoam appearance (two more names associated
with this wildflower-like plant), in the language of flowers,
statice symbolizes remembrance.
Stock-
A symbol of happy life and contented existence, the stock
flower, with its sweet, heady-scented blooms, is native to
Southwestern Greece and the Mediterranean. Typically found in
white, pink, red or lilac, stock is also called gillyflower or
Virginia stock.
Sunflower-
The 3rd wedding anniversary flower and the state flower of
Kansas, sunflowers turn to follow the sun. Their open faces
symbolize the sun itself, conveying warmth and happiness,
adoration and longevity.
Tulip-
Although different tulip colors carry distinct meanings - yellow
tulips symbolizing cheerful thoughts, white conveying
forgiveness and purple representing royalty - a Turkish legend
may be responsible for the red tulip's symbolism. The story goes
that a prince named Farhad was love struck by a maiden named
Shirin. When Farhad learned that Shirin had been killed, he was
so overcome with grief that he killed himself - riding his horse
over the edge of a cliff. It's said that a scarlet tulip sprang
up from each droplet of his blood, giving the red tulip the
meaning "perfect love."
The 11th wedding anniversary flower, it's said that the tulip’s
velvety black center represents a lover's heart, darkened by the
heat of passion. With the power to rival roses in their red
variety and the sweet charm to express simple joy when yellow,
it’s no wonder that in addition to all its other symbolism, in
the language of flowers, a tulip bouquet represents elegance and
grace.
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