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Language of Flowers: Thrift

In the language of flowers, the flower for today, August 14 (which is also my parents’ 69th wedding anniversary), is Thrift, which signifies sympathy for the fallen. Armeria maritima. Image from Wikipedia. This perky pink wildflower has been a favorite of gardeners since the 16th century. In Gaelic, Thrift is known as tonna chladaich, meaning ‘beach wave’. In Welsh it is called clustog fair,…

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Language of Flowers: Vetch

In the language of flowers, the flower for today, August 13, is Vetch, which signifies shyness. Vicia orobus. Image from Wikipedia. Vicia sativa, known as the common Vetch, garden Vetch, tare, or simply Vetch, is a nitrogen-fixing leguminous plant in the family Fabaceae. ‘Vicia’ means ‘binder’ in Latin; this was the name used by Pliny for Vetch. Vetch is also referenced by Horace in his account…

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Language of Flowers: Wisteria

In the language of flowers, if your birthday is today, August 12, your birthday flower is Wisteria Vine, which signifies intoxication. Wisteria sinensis. Image from Wikipedia. It’s no wonder the flowering Wisteria Vine has gained such illustrious symbolism. Fabaceae is a magnificent plant with impressive growth, high longevity, great beauty, and intoxicating fragrance. Historically, Wisteria…

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Flower of the Day: Witch Hazel

In the language of flowers, if your birthday is today (August 9), your birthday flower is Witch Hazel, which signifies “a spell”. The Latin name, Hamamelis, is from the Greek words “hama”, which means “at same time” or “together” and “mêlon”, meaning “apple” or “fruit”, as the plant can bear flowers and fruits at the same time. The common name Witch Hazel is partly from the Middle English…

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Language of Flowers: Balm of Gilead

In the language of flowers, there is a flower for every day of the year. The flower for today, December 26, is Balm of Gilead, which signifies cure, relief. Image above from Wikipedia. L. Cortambert said, long ago: “This exquisite balm, so justly esteemed by the ancients, seems to have been prepared by Nature to soften our pains, thus we often employ the word balm in a moral and figurative…

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Language of Flowers: Petunia

In the language of flowers, there is a flower for every day of the year. The flower for today, December 22, is Petunia, which signifies being with you is soothing. Image above from Wikipedia. The meaning of Petunias can be contradictory, leading to some confusion — Petunia also signifies you are not as pretty as you are proud – but remember the meaning of any flower depends on the circumstances…

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Language of Flowers: Japonica

There is a flower for every day of the year in the language of flowers. The flower for today, December 21, is Japonica, which signifies excellence. Image above from Wikipedia. Fatsia japonica, also called paperplant, is a small flowering broadleaf evergreen native to southern Japan, southern Korea, and Taiwan. The name fatsi is an approximation of the Japanese word for ‘eight,’ referring to the…

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Language of Flowers: Cardinal Flower

There is a flower for every day of the year in the language of flowers. The flower for today, December 20, is Cardinal Flower, which signifies distinction. Image above from Wikipedia. Named for the vivid red color of a Roman Catholic cardinal’s robe, Lobelia cardinalis produces intense red blossoms. Cardinal Flower is an American wildflower native to Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri,…

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Language of Flowers: Carnation

In the language of flowers, each day has its own designated flower. The flower for today, December 19, is Carnation, which signifies pure love. Image above from Wikipedia. From L. Cortambert’s ‘Language of Flowers’: “The primitive Pink is single, red, and odorous. Cultivation has doubled its petals and varied its colours to infinitude. These charming flowers are imbued with a thousand tints…as…

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Language of Flowers: Cedar of Lebanon

In the language of flowers, there is a flower for every day of the year. The flower for today, December 18 (Keith Richards’ birthday), is Cedar of Lebanon, which signifies incorruptible. Image above from Wikipedia. Cedrus libani, commonly known as the Cedar of Lebanon, is native to the mountains of the Eastern Mediterranean basin. Cedrus is the Latin name for true cedars. The specific epithet…

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Language of Flowers: Chamomile

In the language of flowers, there is a flower for every day of the year. The flower for today, December 17, is Chamomile, which signifies energy in adversity. Image above from Wikipedia. This soothing aromatic herb–fifth of the nine magic herbs cited in the Lacnunga, a tenth-century Anglo-Saxon herbal–symbolized energy as well as humility, because it grows stronger, faster, and more fragrant…

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Language of Flowers: Rock Rose

In the language of flowers, there is a flower for every day of the year. The flower for today, December 16, is Rock Rose, which signifies security. Image above from Wikipedia. The Cistaceae are a small family of plants, found in Europe, the Mediterranean, and North America. Rock Rose thrives because of two important ecological properties: mycorrhizal ability and fast renewal after wildfire.…

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Language of Flowers: Coreopsis

There is a flower for every day of the year in the language of flowers. The flower for today, December 15, is Coreopsis, which signifies always cheerful. Image above from Wikipedia. The name Coreopsis is derived from the Greek words koris, meaning “bedbug,” and opsis, meaning “view,” referring to the shape of the fruit. Coreopsis, native to North, Central, and South America, is commonly called…

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Language of Flowers: Cockscomb

There is, in the language of flowers, a flower for every day of the year. The flower for today, December 14, is Cockscomb, which signifies singularity. Image above from Wikipedia. Celosia is a small genus of edible and ornamental plants in the amaranth family, Amaranthaceae. The generic name is derived from the ancient Greek word kḗleos, meaning “burning,” and refers to the flame-like flower…

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Language of Flowers: Citron

In the language of flowers, each day has its own designated flower. The flower for today, December 13, is Citron, which signifies estrangement. Image above from Wikipedia. Citrus medica is a thorny evergreen shrub or small tree, native to India and widely cultivated for its large lemon-like fruits that have a thick warty rind. The thick rind, when candied, is the Citron of commerce. Citron is…

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Language of Flowers: Coriander

In the language of flowers, there is a flower for every day of the year. The flower for today, December 12, is Coriander, which signifies hidden merit. Image above from Wikipedia. Coriandrum sativum is an annual herb in the family Apiaceae. It is also known as Chinese parsley, and in North America the stems and leaves are usually called cilantro. All parts of the plant are edible, but the fresh…

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Language of Flowers: Cockle

In the language of flowers, there is a flower for every day of the year. The flower for today, December 11, is Cockle, which signifies absence. Image above from Wikipedia. The common corn Cockle (Agrostemma githago) has a flower like a geranium. It is a wild plant common in the United Kingdom. In the 19th century, Cockle was a very common weed in European wheat fields; its seeds were…

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