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Laura Seibert

intentional floral design elements (no. 2)

about a month ago, i shared the traditional and historic meanings behind some of my favorite floral and greenery varieties. as the floral season is springing back to life, i am reminded of my favorite spring-time flowers, and wanted to share more symbolic meanings for spring-time brides who are looking for an extremely unique, and magical bouquet.


there is something beautiful about the subtle transition into spring each year, as mother earth slowly wakes up from winter, providing us with some of the most gorgeous & delicate blooms; we're talking peonies, tulips, and wisteria, who wouldn't swoon over these spring-time beauties? i touched on peonies & ranunculus in my last post, so if you missed it, or need a refresher, you can read it here.

 

anemones

anemones are a distinctive, delicate flower with a deep violet/black center and add beautiful dimension to any arrangement. translated from Greek "anemone" means the wind's daughter, and these blooms in the buttercup family are often called windflowers. traditionally anemones are used as a symbol to protect against ill will or evil, but can also be used in memorial of a forgotten love, or a deceased family member. anemones are also a symbol of change so are often used in bridal bouquets to bring in positive change and well-being as the wedding couple enters this new stage of their lives together.


hellebore

hellebore is a gorgeous flower that blooms from late autumn to spring and traditionally in Victorian times was said to symbolize delirium. this flower has a mythological history of being used to cure madness, but should not be ingested as it is toxic to consume. although historically, the traditional meaning & symbolism is a bit dodgy, over time hellebore has come to represent peace, serenity, and tranquility. hellebore is also related to the Christmas season and can be given as a holiday gift or laced throughout holiday arrangements.


hyacinth

like many other flowers, the lore of hyacinths date back to Greek mythology. this springtime flower was named after Greek prince Hyakinthos who was murdered and turned to a hyacinth flower due to a dangerous love triangle. the hyacinth was said to memorialize the prince's beauty & essence. due to this myth hyacinths can symbolize jealousy, but also over time have come to represent sincerity and have even been used as tokens of forgiveness.


lily of the valley

lily of the valley is a delicate, extremely sought after and valuable flower. these dainty blooms have traditionally symbolized motherhood, sweetness, and luck in love which make them a perfect stem to included in bridal & baby shower arrangements. often tied to the Virgin Mary, lily of the valley can represent the cyclical nature of re-brith as well as modesty. the Victorian Language of Flowers associated this flower with purity, and a return to happiness.



snapdragon

due to the upright growth and posture of these beautiful blooming stalks, snapdragon can be seen as a symbol of grace & strength. over the years snapdragon has been used for many purposes including creating beautiful bouquets, medicinal tinctures & balms, as well an edible garnish on gourmet dishes. it is said that snapdragons were sent between starcrossed or forbidden lovers in Victorian times, which gave them the reputation of representing deceit. however, most will agree that snapdragon's symbolize honesty, strength, and protection today.


sweet pea

these beautiful flowers originate from the Mediterranean and their delicate clusters of blooms have long since symbolize friendship, kindness, and well wishes. the Victorian Language of Flowers lists sweet pea as the perfect flower to express gratitude to others as a thank you gift. the official birth flower of April, the sweet pea can also symbolize "blissful pleasure" due to their bright and playful blooms.


tulips

one of the most popular flowers of spring, tulips originate in Asia where they originally grew as wildflowers. while many people associate roses with being the flower of love, tulips have long been given as a symbol of "perfect & deep love." because tulips are one of the first flowers to bloom in spring, they also represent rebirth and new beginnings. in the Victorian era, tulips were used as a symbol of charity & goodwill, and represented working together with others.


wisteria

a gorgeous flowering vine, wisteria can live for over 100 years and has deep-rooted and historical symbolism. in the art of Feng Shui, wisteria provides an organic representation of bowing down in honor and respect. in Asian culture wisteria can represent wisdom, humility, and prayer. however, in the Victorian era, wisteria acted as a warning of "over-passionate love", as the vines can easily grow out of control if not carefully tended to.



 

sources:

Bouqs Company. (2022, December 22). Hyacinth meaning and symbolism | Bouqs blog. Fresh Trimmings. Retrieved March 9, 2023, from https://bouqs.com/blog/hyacinth-meaning-and-symbolism/


Gaumond, A. (2023, May 18). Ultimate Guide to snapdragon flower meaning and symbolism. Petal Republic. Retrieved March 9, 2023, from https://www.petalrepublic.com/snapdragon-flower-meaning/

Moulton, M. (2022, June 19). Ultimate Guide to sweet pea flower meaning, symbolism & uses. Petal Republic. Retrieved March 9, 2023, from https://www.petalrepublic.com/sweet-pea/


Oliver, R. (2022, July 11). What is the meaning of tulips? symbolism behind Coloured Tulip Flowers. Truly Experiences Blog. Retrieved March 11, 2023, from https://trulyexperiences.com/blog/tulips-meaning/


P., R. (2020, June 4). Anemone flower meaning and symbolism. Florgeous. Retrieved March 9, 2023, from https://florgeous.com/anemone-flower-meaning/


P., R. (2022, May 17). Lily of the valley flower meaning and symbolism. Florgeous. Retrieved March 9, 2023, from https://florgeous.com/lily-of-the-valley-flower-meaning/


Petal Republic Team (2023, February 1). Ultimate Guide to Hellebore Flower Meaning and symbolism. Petal Republic. Retrieved March 9, 2023, from https://www.petalrepublic.com/hellebore-flower-meaning/#:~:text=In%20the%20Victorian%20language%20of%20flowers%2C%20hellebore%20symbolized%20delirium%2C%20according,anxiety%2C%20stress%2C%20and%20scandal.


Wisteria flower – meaning, symbolism and colors. Flower Meanings. (n.d.). Retrieved March 11, 2023, from https://flowermeanings.org/wisteria-flower-meaning-symbolism-and-colors/










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