The Language of Flowers

by Margaret Pickston

"Thre is a language, 'little known', Lovers claim it as their own. Its symbols smile upon the land, Wrought by Natures wonderous hand; And in their silent beauty speak, Of life and joy, to those who... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0718105931
• ISBN13: 9780718105938
• Release Date: September 1987
• Publisher: Viking Books
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.26 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.1" x 5.9"

Customer Reviews

Amusing little book

This book is apparently (whether actually or not) a reproduction of a little notebook, handwritten with handpainted illustrations, containing the Victorian "code" of flowers such as used in creating tussy-mussies. The notebook includes a dedication indicating it is a birthday gift from a husband to his wife. It is a nice little reference, especially if you enjoy Victoriana and/or flowers. It would make a nice addition to a gardener's gift basket or a selection of quaint Victorian or neo-Victorian gifts.

Charming and Simple

I love this book. It is simple in design, yet touches the heart with its charm. I keep it front and center in my home, and guests inevitably pick it up to flip through it.

correction to previous review

I agree that this is a charming little book, but it was a gift of a husband to his wife, not, as given by the previous reviewer, a daughter to her mother. The inscription reads "To Mother...from Father." I am also baffled as to why the previous reviewer felt it necessary to stress the wholesomeness, cleanliness and inoffensiveness of this book. We are talking about a book of flowers, aren't we? Nevertheless, if there are readers so delicate as to wither at a hint of unpleasantness, they should be warned that The Language of Flowers recognizes that life is not all sweetness and light. They should steel themselves to learn that the inoffensive lobelia denotes "malevolence", the charming bilberry "treachery", the scarlet aricula "avarice", and the beloved basil, out and out "hatred." Beware the mandrake, one of several plants that convey "horror". Who would have guessed the popular hellebore (christmas rose) represented "scandal"? No doubt you will find African marigolds--"vulgar minds"--growing nearby.

My thoughts on "THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS"

Ever since I was a little child, flowers have always been one of my favorites of all God's creation. I think of them as the expression of serenity, beauty, and God's glory. I have thought that flowers have their own language; they just feel like it. So upon just seeing the title of this book, I fell in love with it. It was a little book--not intimidating in size, and seemed like a book for someone who loves gentle, quiet, beautiful things. Lovely drawings of blooming flowers were intertwined into each page. The printing was like a country mother's journal handwriting, and the pictures like ones that would hang in a breezy country home. The dedication note from the author to her mother was sweet and loving, and was followed by a short, yet intriguing poem. The rest of the pages in the book were made up of a charming alphabetical list of the names of flowers, followed by what they mean or represent. Their meanings expressed the emotion their scent and color evokes in the mind of the viewer. I found this book to be full of wholesome, clean information, completely non-offensive; and its words were metaphors of love in themselves. I recommend this book highly to anyone who finds flowers beautiful and interesting, and wants to find words to describe what flowers say. It is also good for anyone who wants to plant flowers according to their symbolic meanings. This book receives an A+ from me, and is a definite must-have for flower-lovers of all ages.