YARROW “War”*
No, this is not a joke about bows and yarrows. This plant is also known as Achillea, or Achillea millefolia, or, from that, Common Milfoil. The millefolia is a reference to a plant with many leaves. The other part of the name refers to the hero Achilles, who apparently always carried an ointment made of it. Scottish Highlanders are said to have done the same, and for the same reason: the plant has so many medicinal uses that it is sometimes given the folk-name Nosebleed. Yarrow has been chewed for toothache, and smeared on the skin to handle other aches and pains. Besides its use as a military man’s medicine chest, it has been used to flavor beer, tea, and vinegar. Folkard notes that it is also a favorite for planting in cemeteries. Which wraps it all up rather neatly.
YEW “Sorrow”
Oh, how I wanted this to mean “My Thoughts Are of Yew”. I don’t suppose any of you would have believed it, anyhow.
Yew is a dark, somber tree, another great favorite for graveyard decoration. Grigson claims that to sleep in its shadow was believed by many to be the express lane to the tomb.
*YUCCA “Yours Until Death”
Z
Zephyr Flower: see ANEMONE
ZINNIA “Thoughts of Absent Friends”
You could say this is a way of letting someone know “Hope I’ll Be Zinnia Soon.” You COULD say that.
*ZIPTION SPINOSUM “Be Prudent”
*ZUCCHINI “Surfeit”
And that is more than enough.
HOW TO WRITE A BOUQUET
There are, as floriographers from at least Lucy Hooper onward have pointed out, certain drawbacks to flower language. One’s chats with one’s sweetheart are not limited to spring and summer, and at other times of the year, the plants needed to communicate may be available only at great expense.
An easy way around this is to use the secret code method. In a written bouquet, the flowers need to exist only on paper. Let’s say an average citizen—call him Dilford—has had a fight with his one and only, Daisy Jo Pennies, and wants to make up. But it’s February 15, so he assembles his bouquet on paper, and sends her this message. These books frequently had an index by meaning, so, leafing (sorry) through such a book, Dilford selects words to express himself which can be encoded into a message of contrition, and pleads for mercy.
Oh, my raven-haired ROSE:
The BROKEN STRAW between us will always be one of my ADONIS. But I know you have too much GERANIUM to let you remain angry with me. ZINNIA makes me realize our FIG was a temporary result of foolish ROCKET. Our ROSE is too strong to fall victim to MUSHROOM. Our HAZEL may make people laugh at my COLUMBINE, but I don’t care. I must see you again, PETUNIA.
Sending you SWEET BASIL,
Dilford Dolfus.
See how romantic that is? It takes some thought, since there are not all that many verbs available in flower language. The recipient can decode the message by reversing the process: looking up the meaning for each flower used, to translate the letter as:
Oh, my raven-haired love:
The break-up between us will always be one of my sorrowful memories. But I know you have too much gentility to let you remain angry with me. Thoughts of my absent friend make me realize our argument was a temporary result of foolish rivalry. Our love is too strong to fall victim to suspicion. Our reconciliation may make people laugh at my folly, but I don’t care. I must see you again, your presence soothes me.
Sending you good wishes,
Dilford Dolfus.
Oh, there is just one other thing. The recipient of the bouquet should have a really good flower language book (this one, for example, just to choose something handy), or, at the very least, THE SAME ONE YOU ARE USING. If Daisy Jo Pennies went to the library and checked out the first floriography she finds, perhaps one of the most popular in American libraries today, Dilford’s message would come out like this:
Oh, my raven-haired love:
The break-up between us will always be one of my recollections of life’s pleasures. But I know you have too much folly to let you remain angry with me. Thoughts of absent friends makes me realize our wisdom was a temporary result of foolish lust and vanity. Our love is too strong to fall victim to wisdom and integrity. Our reconciliation may make people laugh at my cuckoldry, but I don’t care. I must see you again; I am furious.
Sending you poverty and hate,
Dilford Dolfus.
Don’t let this happen to you. Buy a copy of THIS flower language book for everyone on your mailing list.
(Next week: It Gets Worse)
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