THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS

My wife insisted on this page, since she claims that there is more to the flower world than orchids! Imagine that?! So here are her ideas of some flower legends :)

"THE ORCHID"
by Nos Vemos

It caught my eye as I was driving by
So that instinctively I braked to look,
Amazed at such a mass array of bloom
The coloured front page of a florist's book.
Solid purple for two feet long or three,
One great unbroken rank of blazing flower,
My heart leapt as it looked maybe to me,
They could be orchids filling up that bower.
On the Verandah now I could go near,
They were so lovely but myt head was clear
I would come again favor manana
It was Cattleya Bowringiana.

Iris - in the Language of Flowers signifies "A Message"
From the Greek word for Rainbow. Original location was the Orient. Most species bloom in June, take little care and burst forth in colors like purple, blue, yellow, white, red and even pistachio! Fleur-de-lis is the well known French word for Iris, and means "flower of the lily". Legends go back to the 6th century with Clovis, King of the Franks where an angel appeared with a blue shield of Iris flowers on it. After that, Clovis rebuilt an Empire on the ruins of Rome.

Lily - in the Language of Flowers signifies Encouragement
125 different species in North America. Flower June through November. State flower of Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky.

Rose - in the Language of Flowers signifies Love
Legends of the Rose go back to the Garden of Eden. Legend says it was originally white and was made red with blush when Eve kissed it. Greek legends tells how red roses sprang from thorns that were made red when Venus ran over them through the forest looking for Adonis. In Persia, legend has it that the nightingale learned that Allah had made the rose the queen of flowers, thrust his breast against the thorns and shed his blood over the petals, changing them to red.

Petunia - in the Language of Flowers signifies Forever Devoted
Comes from the Brazilian word petun, meaning tobacco, is actually a tropical America Herb. Dozen or more species. Little care required.

Wild Daisy - in the Language of Flowers signifies Simplicity
A flower of tradition and romance. It the old world, a wood nymph, while dancing on the green, was seen by Vertumnus, god of Spring. Moved by sudden passion, he embraced the white creature, but to his astonishment and sorrow she turned away with a look of fear and aversion. Some divine power fell to the earth transformed into a beautiful daisy. Always referred to as "the poet's darling".

Crocus - in the Language of Flowers signifies Cheerfulness
Roman women used the juice of the flower as a dye for hair and the Irish, believing that the stain from Crocus has a sanitary value, used it as a dye for linen. Henry VIII forbade it's use (he forbade most things, though!) There are so many legends about the crocus that there isn't room for them all here. They have quite a colorful history!

Narcissus - in the Language of Flowers signifies Vanity
Most know the legend of Narcissus, whom Greek mythology tells of as a handsome man who was greatly loved by a beautify nymph, Echo. He did not return her love, and she pinned away her life until there was nothing left of her but her voice. His "curse" was he would be happy until the moment he saw his own face. Well, we know the rest of the story, he saw his face in a reflection, fell in love with himself, and was never loved in return.

Cornflower Bachelor Buttons)- in the Language of Flowers signifies Delicacy
Legend has it that the European peasants would carry petals wet with dew in their pockets to make sure of happiness and success. 24 hours later if the petals were wilted their love would be unhappy. Some even remained bachelors because of the wilted petals. It is the official flower of Germany.

Sunflower - in the Language of Flowers signifies Adoration All-American named because the large yellow heads turn to face the sun, growing 5 to 10 feet tall with heads a foot in diameter. Sun worshipers in Peru believed it was the unmistakable symbol of the sun, and wore gold emblems of the flower for which many were put to death by the Spanish. It is the state flower of Kansas.

Violet - in the Language of Flowers signifies Faithfulness
Greek legend tells that Jupiter changed Io, one of priestesses in Juno's temple, into a white heifer, and believing that grass was not suitable for so dainty and lovely a creature, caused the violet to spring up around her so that she would have special food to eat. The Greek word for Violet is Ion and the land Ionia is named for it. It was Napoleon's favorite flower.