the “language of flowers”

in the “language of flowers”, the lily of the valley signifies the return of happiness. i didn’t know about the language of flowers until today. steve told me that Shakespeare’s Hamlet is loaded with it. so, i turned to my favorite source, wiki. here’s what i learned. i think it’s pretty interesting:

Floriography (language of flowers) is a means of cryptological communication through the use or arrangement of flowers…Interest in floriography soared in Victorian England and in the United States during the 19th century. Gifts of blooms, plants, and specific floral arrangements were used to send a coded message to the recipient, allowing the sender to express feelings which could not be spoken aloud in Victorian society. Armed with floral dictionaries, Victorians often exchanged small “talking bouquets”, called nosegays or tussie-mussies, which could be worn or carried as a fashion accessory.

lily of the valley