LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS

“When words escape us, flowers speak”
Bruce W. Currie

 

May is Gifts from the Garden month and my favorite gifts use the Language of Flowers especially herbs to send a message with the gift.  Here is a list of some herbs and their meanings:

Flower or Herb		Symbolism
Artemesia		everlasting/always remembered
Aster		sentimental recollections
Baby's Breath		gentleness
Beebalm		compassion
Bluebeard		gaiety
Calendula		renewed good health/joy
Carnation		pride
Catnip/Catmint		good luck/abundance of love
Chamomile		humility/wisdom/fortitude/patience
Chrysanthemum		cheerfulness
Costmary		fidelity/sweetness
Feverfew		healing/protection
Goldenrod		encouragement
Heather		admiration
Hyssop		purity
Ivy		fidelity/friendship
Lady's Mantle		comfort/peace
Lamb's ear		gentleness
Lavender		devotion/strength/chastity
Lilac		joy
Lily of the Valley		peace/purity
Mint		virtue/refreshment
Nasturtium		patriotism/optimism/victory
Oregano		abundance
Pansy		thoughtful/optimism/thoughts of you
Rose		love/affection
Rose Geranium		preference
Rosemary		remembrance
Sage		long life/good health
Southernwood		perseverance
Sunflower		adoration
Thyme		courage/strength
Violet		faithfulness/loyalty/sweetness
Yarrow		good health

 

 

You can create gifts from your garden with either fresh or dried flowers and herbs.  Here are a couple examples of my favorite gifts from the garden:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TUSSIE MUSSIE

A little bouquet of fragrant leaves and flowers which is an age old tradition that was made as a gift with a hidden message: the original version of “saying it with flowers”

 

 

PRAYER OF SAINT FRANCIS

Lord, make me an instrument of your PEACE (Lady’s Mantle)

Where there is hatred, let me sow LOVE (Rose)

Where there is injury, PARDON (Hyssop)

Where there is doubt, FAITH (Violet)

Where there is despair, HOPE (Daisy)

Where there is darkness, LIGHT (Feverfew)

Where there is sadness, JOY (Lilac)

 

 

 

 

GET-WELL POTPOURRI

A thoughtful gift that sends to a hospitalized friend a message of compassion and good wishes through the language of flowers

 

 

2 cups lavender flowers (devotion)

1 cup calendula flowers (renewed good health)

1 cup eucalyptus leaves (a get-well wish)

½ cup chamomile flowers (patience)

½ cup pine needles (hope in adversity)

½ cup citrus peel (renewed zest)

½ cup bee balm flowers (compassion)

¼ cup peppermint (warm feelings)

 

 

 

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others,
faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”

I Peter 4:10