Flowers are recognised and acknowledge as things of beauty throughout the world over.Life and surroundings have become more diverse, yet flowers have remained constant. No one can ever improve on the beauty of a flower.
Flowers are symbolic in many cultures, from the age of mankind flowers have been considered to be sacred. The lotus/water lily goes as far back to the time of the Egyptian Goddess Isis. It was seen as a sacred flower that appeared in tomb paintings and was part of their religious precessions, often worn around the head.

When the Romans invaded the British Isles they brought with it herbs, vegetables, flowers and plants. In the Greek and Roman Eras, Glycera was renowned as a professional garland maker. She was famous for her wreaths and garlands. She paved the way for today's florists. As the Roman Era declined so did the art of flowers.

It wasn't until the Renaissance Era that flowers were reintroduced in the form of art. The 'Common' man could not read or write, therefore the use of floral symbolism in painting ensured that by looking at a painting a message could be conveyed. The church used blooms as as symbol of the relgious calendar. Flowers were used to pay respect to the Gods, children would wear garlands on their heads as a sign of friendship and youthfulness.

The 17th century was the age of scientific interest and discovery, floral symbolism was hardly noticed until the reign of Queen Victoria. This era was known as the Victorian Era, wealthy women had sentimental interest in flowers and were familiar with the language of flowers. In the 1700's Lady Mary Wortley Montague travelled with her husband to Istanbul where she discovered the ideas of a language of flowers and brought it back to England where she created a book offering a code of over 800 floral meanings. 'The Language of Flowers' was reinvented over the time the European language of flowers differed from that of America's. Any culture adopted by another country loses something in translation. America the multi-cultural country that it was watched its settlers impose their own meanings on the language of flowers. It is fair to say that America was influenced by the floral traditions of Europe and the Far East along with those of the Native American peoples.

In the Far East this culture of cut flowers was not used as much as in other cultures. It was considered prohibited the taking of life, this included plants and flowers. The Chinese used the symbol of flowers for each season. Spring was the peony, summer the lotus, autumn the chrysanthemum and winter it was blossom. The Orchid was symbolic of love, beauty and fertility. In India the lotus flower symbolised the universe. Bowls of water floating lotus flowers were offered to Buddha, the bowl held the water of life.

Flowers today are still being used as a form of symbolism. William Morris a famous for his floral designs in the 19th century, wrote 'The heart of a man needed to belong to nature.' Today we bring nature to heart of many through the tradition of floral symbolism. The giving of flowers.....