Pink peonies from my husband, Stuart’s, garden at Fox Hall, intertwined with mountain laurel, are arranged as a colorful centerpiece for a dinner party. Did you know that mountain laurel, the state flower of Connecticut, symbolizes a mark of achievement and perseverance, and my beloved pink peonies relay the beauty of marriage and love at first sight? These two flower varieties and colors discreetly offer a loving tribute, in the secret language of flowers, to my darling husband of 45 years!
Every day is the perfect day to give, receive or admire pretty flowers! But are you aware of the secret language of flowers? Besides merely admiring them, the color and the variety of various flowers can have symbolic meaning behind them... a secret language.
During the Victorian ages, the language of flowers was an ingenious way of expressing intimate, romantic feelings to another, back when it was taboo to do so blatantly. The color and type of flower chosen was a silent dialogue. I was unaware of this lovely language until I discovered a precious little book, placed by my bedside, at my mother-in-law's charming Cape Cod house. (As an avid, voracious reader, she consistently selects fascinating books to pique our interests and places them in the various bedrooms. It is a gracious gesture that I now emulate for my guests and family too.)
The little book was about the secret language of flowers. There are many books written about floriography, the coded communication through various flowers and their colors. I was intrigued and enthralled with this creative concept, probably because I adore flower arranging. I asked myself, "What secret message am I relaying with the flowers I give to others?" Not that the recipient would ever know, but it is amusing to consider, once you know that there is a language!
I am not alone; others are fascinated with the secret language and symbolic meaning, too. Christian Dior had a passion for Lily of the Valley and chose it for his classic perfume, Diorissimo, designing it on the bottle and many other creations. The symbol of Lily of the Valley means purity, a return to happiness, and humility. Coco Chanel adored the white Camellia (or Chinese Rose), a symbol of everlasting love and devotion. Oscar Wilde wore a green Carnation on his lapel, which was his secret hint that he was a man who loved other men.
This classic arrangement of white roses at The Ritz Hotel in London represents, in flower language, a sign of purity and a symbol of respect, which is one reason they are also often featured in bridal bouquets.
Flower Colors:
Roses are red, violets are blue, kiss me, and I'll love you!
Typically, a bouquet of red roses indicates romance because the color red signifies love and passion.
White: purity and grace
Pink: gratitude and admiration/femininity, gentility and elegance (Oh, I do like pink!)
Peach: gratitude
Yellow: joy and gratitude
Purple: enchantment, love at first sight, and success
Orange: enthusiasm and energy (the university color of my husband’s alma mater!)
Specific Flowers:
Anemones: anticipation and good luck (everyone could use good luck!)
Red Carnations: pride and beauty
Daisies: new beginnings (the flower for our daughters’ school, Miss Porter’s)
Gardenias: purity and secret love (reminds me of spring dances at St. Christopher’s School)
Hyacinths: playfulness and constancy (I adore the fragrance!)
Lilacs: (magenta) love and passion; (purple) first love (Mummy’s favorite flower)
Lilies: purity and refined love
Peonies: happy marriage and good fortune (my favorite flower, yours too?)
Tulips: perfect love (my love, Stuart, plants masses of tulips at Fox Hall)
Grandmillennial Tips:
Consider sending cut flowers without a vase, the day before a dinner party to the hostess. She can then arrange them in a container of her choice and display them before the party commences.
When sending flowers to someone that you don't know (or if you have not visited their house), send a white arrangement or a white orchid plant to be placed in any room in the house!
Deliver an easy and meaningful toast by incorporating the secret language of the flowers on the table or in a bridal bouquet! When my daughter Caroline’s friends in Park City, Utah, hosted a beautiful baby shower for her first baby, outside on the St. Regis Hotel terrace, I offered to make a little flower arrangement for each guest to take home. I chose flowers to complement the party’s color scheme, adding wildflowers from the mountains surrounding us. I then looked up and noted each flower's meaning to integrate and compose my toast to her, making the arrangements even more meaningful to everyone. This technique is easy if you want to make a memorable toast, even if you choose only one flower's meaning from within the table arrangement!
A glimpse at the luncheon place setting on the verandah at Fox Hall, in honor of Lady Carnarvon’s visit from Highclere Castle. I arranged a little porcelain container of flowers for each guest to take home as a memento. Carnations originated from England, so I incorporated a few pink Carnations as a nod to her country, and the horse sculpture as a nod to our mutual passion for horses!
What color and variety of flowers did your lover send you for Valentine’s Day?!
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