The Language of Flowers

Can flowers speak? Is there a language of flowers? Flowers have long been used by human beings to communicate with each other without the need for words, to say thank you, to show love, to pay respect, to remember, to offer consolation or bring joy and gladness. 

In Victorian society ‘Talking bouquets’ would be sent between sweethearts articulating feelings which couldn’t be made explicitly – according to this little book on the language of flowers– the red rose bud suggested someone was lovely, the daffodil suggested chivalry, the pansy or heartsease meant that someone occupied your thoughts. But there were less romantic flora which could appear in a bunch of flowers-a leek- yes a leek, not surprisingly indicated a frugal nature- and if you included a Xanthium in the bunch- you were telling your beloved they were a little bit pretentious and rude! 

In the scriptures, God communicates to the people he loves through nature- flowers and trees speak- they clap their hands- the myrtle and the briar- are a memorial to the Lord – the lily of the field is a sign of contentment and blessing, during Advent we sing of a spotless Rose representing the incarnation of Christ – Christ wears a crown of hawthorn on the cross- at Easter we sing of love, come again like wheat that springeth green. The staff of our own Saint, Etheldreda whom we remember today- burst into flower as a sign of her trust in God. 

The flowers are now coming to life and beginning to speak as the earth warms up and the birds begin to sing again. It’s almost as if they have been singing and praying and worshipping, and proclaiming in their own language, and through their own loveliness, the story of the Christian faith. The garden is the place where resurrection happens.

The flowers in their own ministry delight and humble us, they can even provoked us to tears- not because of hay-fever- but by moving heart and soul of those who look upon them. 

In every colour of the rainbow, flowers give us all a vision of the kaleidoscope of life- over which the God we believe in delights -as colourful and vibrant as the vision from the book of Revelation, life in all of its fullness before our eyes.

At the beginning of this book- there is an inscription that reads: 

There is a language, little known, Lovers claimed it as their own- 

but it’s symbols smile upon the land- wrought by God’s almighty hand-

And in their silent beauty speak- of life and joy, to those who seek…. 

for Love Divine, and sunny hours- in the language of the flowers. 

Sweet flowers that perfume all the air, thank God Almighty that made you fair, Alleluia.   We give thanks that these flowers have spoken to us of love divine, and the kaleidoscope of life. Thanks be to God.