Say it with Flowers – the Perfect Gift Anytime

In this hectic world that we live in it is often easy to go from day-to-day without showing those closest to you how much you appreciate and care for them. One of the most traditional and classic ways to show someone special how much they mean to you is by choosing a beautiful bouquet of flowers for them; as the traditional saying goes “Say it with Flowers”.


But when you walk into a florist and are confronted with so many beautiful blooms it is hard to know what to choose for your special someone. By looking at the traditional meanings behind some common flowers it becomes easier to make the choice.


When choosing flowers for one you love Roses are often a popular choice. Roses have been used throughout history to symbolize many things; love, beauty, war and politics, with the deep red rose being used in many traditions to portray passionate love. But with every color rose comes a different meaning, just a few are outlined below:

• Red: These symbolize passion, eternal love and courage.
  

• White: These are often given as a symbol of innocence, humility and purity. For these reasons they are often seen at weddings. However, they can also be used as a representation of silence, and can be given when asking someone to keep a secret.
  

• Yellow: These are generally seen as being a sign of friendship, and are a great way to show that you care.
  

• Pink: These depict friendship and marriage. They can be used to say “I love You” in either a platonic or a romantic way.
  

• Peach: These symbolize appreciation and are a great way to say “thank you”.

Roses needn’t be the only choice when considering which flowers to give to convey an important message to someone special. Nearly every flower has a special meaning and it sometimes pays to be original in your choice.


Carnations: These are long-lasting flowers that are a popular choice both with florists and the general public. They come in a huge variety of colors which means that there is a color suitable for almost any occasion. Generally they are thought to symbolize betrothal, love and fertility. A small selection of the colors available (and their meanings) is outlined below:

• White: Love
  

• Red: Aching heart
  

• Yellow: Rejection
  

• Pink: I’ll never forget you

Lilies: These are an extremely popular choice at both weddings and around the home, with white lilies being the most common variety purchased.

• The white lily symbolizes innocence and purity.

Tulips: Generally tulips are thought to mean ‘fame’. However, as for roses and carnations, different colors represent different emotions.

• Red: A declaration of love
  

• Yellow: Hopeless love
  

• Striped: Beautiful eyes

So if you are struggling to tell a loved one how you are feeling you can rest assured that there is a flower that sums up your sentiments perfectly. Thomas Hood remarked that “Sweet flowers alone can say what passion fears revealing” (The Language of Flowers, 1891), so if you’re finding it hard to put your feelings into words then Say it with Flowers!

Written by: Judith Babb