Floriography

aka the language of flowers 

was a Victorian era means of communicating 

in which various flowers were used 

to send coded messages, 

allowing individuals to express feelings 

which otherwise could not be spoken.

I wonder if they came with a decoder ring? 

Or were their meanings so well known 

that no cheat sheet was needed… 

in which cause, 

it would seem to detract 

from the efficacy of a ‘coded’ messages… 

might as well Twitter it 

if everyone knew it anyway!

If you’ve read this blog for any amount of time, 

you’ll know of my abiding love for roses…

yes, I have passion for more than Peeps! 

Flowers, and gardening,  

are the perfect metaphors for life… 

cycles of seeming death or quiescence, 

re-birth, full flower and then decline – 

as well as speaking directly to being uprooted, 

putting down roots, 

planting the seed 

without seeing the fruits of your labor, 

being in the wrong climate 

or soil, 

issues of control, 

benign neglect,

etc.

 

I realized the other day that the roses that attract me at the grocery store 

on any given day 

can also give me a clue 

about my emotional state. 

I usually love billowy roses – 

graceful, open, receptive, 

and unfolding to the light source – 

meager though it may be 

on a bleak mid- winter day.

And, while tea roses have a ‘meaning’ of “I’ll always remember”, 

I can’t help but think it’s because they’re so tightly clenched, 

unable to relax 

and relinquish their grip. 

Beautiful – but SO uptight! 

Guess which ones I chose this week?

 Not that there’s anything wrong with that. 

I’m considering it a sign of maturity that I’m not judging.

I can see the beauty in all states of ‘rose-ness’.

   But there’s also no doubt in my mind  - 

sister needs a vacation!