Picking The Right Flowers For Valentine's Day---The Day I Bought Flowers For A Boy

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

02 Feb 2007 01:34 PM

Roses are Red

Some Orchids are Green

I Love You A Lot

Despite the Miles In Between

That was a poem I wrote in 1991 to my then boyfriend (we lived 500 miles apart at the time). I know. I'm not much of a poet, but to make up for my less than stellar prose I also sent him flowers. Sending flowers... it was a bold move on my part. I had never even dreamt of sending flowers to a guy before meeting Roger. But, I was in college and thought it was time to venture out of my comfort zone. So flowers it was.

I had done research and discovered that during the Victorian era, flowers were used as means to communicate with suitors. I also learned that back then feelings of love, kindness and interest were conveyed in a bouquet of flowers, pinned to a woman's clothing. I had no desire for Roger to pin the flowers I sent him to his shirt, I merely wanted him to know how much he meant to me.

I knew the red rose signified love, but I needed to bone up on the rest of the language of flowers so I stopped by my school's green house. One of the teaching assistants there helped me look up information provided by the Society of American Florists. That was more than 15 years ago, but I still have the chart I drew up that cold January day.

Here's some of what I jotted down. Perhaps, it will help you decide the type of flower you want to give your sweetheart this Valentine's Day. (By the way, I ended up sending Roger a manly arrangement of grass, orchids, and protea. Hey, it was better than sending him a cactus.)

Azalea--- Take Care of Yourself for Me, Temperance, Fragile Passion

Geranium--- Stupidity, Folly

Forget-Me-Not--- True Love, Memories

Daffodil--- Faithfulness, Happiness

Carnation (Red)--- Admiration

Carnation (Pink)--- I'll Never Forget You

Carnation (White)--- Sweet and Lovely, Innocence, Pure Love

Calla Lily--- Beauty

Magnolia--- Nobility

Orchid--- Love, Beauty, Refinement, Beautiful Lady, Chinese Symbol for Many Children

Rose (Pink)--- Perfect Happiness, Please Believe Me

Rose (Red)--- Love, I Love You

Sweetpea--- Good-bye, Departure, Blissful Pleasure, Thank You for a Lovely Time

Tulip--- Perfect Lover, Fame

Violet--- Modesty

Related Articles:

Valentine's Day And Your Garden

Picking The Right Rose

A Rose By Any Other Name...

How Does Your Garden Grow?

What is Xeriscaping?

10 Tips For The Beginner Gardener

Creating a "Shabby Chic" Garden

Simple and Affordable Ways To Spruce Up Your Garden

Tips For Gardening With Children

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

View Full Profile | More from this Blogger