The language of Flowers started in Constantinople in the 1600s, and was brought to England in 1716 by Lady Mary Wortley Montague who had spent time in Turkey with her husband. The interest then moved to France (of course) where the Book Le Langage des Fleurs was printed with over 800 floral signs. Many were toned down in the English translation at the time of Queen Victoria because they were quite lusty and risque!
Flowers are part of our daily life. For virtually every event we have assigned a special flower. Flowers for love, church, church graveyard, marriage, etc. In the 16th century inn’s use to have a branch or flower stalk as signboard which later often changed only into the name of a specific tree or flower. Many times one finds flower gardens in mythological sceneries.
The use of flowers is uncountable: attributes for the springtime, the youth, the sunrise, the rhetoric, the virtue etc.
Most people are aware that a red rose means love but did you know that almost every flower and sometimes the different colors of a single flower has its own meaning? Why is Stephanotis such a popular flower to use in wedding bouquets? Why put Bells of Ireland or Cattails in a bouquet for someone getting a new house or embarking on a new career?