The Language Of Flowers: A Treasury of Verse and Prose Scented by Penhaligon's

by Sheila Pickles

The Victorians turned flower giving into an art, and Sheila Pickles's The Language of Flowers explores the meanings and significance ascribed to certain flowers. Penhaligon's "Violetta" perfume scents the book, and violets are one of the more than twenty such English flowers whose my myths and legends are explored and their subtle language revealed. Favorite poems and prose selections by classic authors illustrate these themes and are accompanied by richly decorative, floral paintings. This treasury makes the perfect gift for occasions when something more lasting than flowers is appropriate.

Genres: Nonfiction, Poetry, Reference, Art, Gardening, Nature, History

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Sheila began her career working for Franco Zeffirelli in the worlds of theatre, film and opera in Italy in the 60s. "He was my education," says Sheila. "He was the first one to open my eyes to the whole world of the Arts. In Rome beauty was all around me." At Zeffirelli's suggestion she took over the dying business of Penhaligon's - the historic perfume house making colognes and special preparations for discerning gentlemen - and spent the next two decades brilliantly bringing the business back to International life. Starting with the launch of several exquisite new scents, her creativity took her into designing original luxury gifts and finally into publishing. Sixteen unique scented anthologies of verse and prose redefined the giftbook market including the international bestseller, The Language of Flowers. Two million copies sold!

With the Objets d'Art Jewellery website, Sheila has created a 21st century version of her books, now on line for the next generation. Showing the inspiration and provenance of the jewellery gives a special meaning to which everyone can immediately relate. "Working in the Uffizzi Gallery in Florence with Zeffirelli during the Florence Flood in 1966 was a cathartic time for me", says Sheila. "This was when I realised for the first time the full value of the past and what it can offer us in the future."

Sheila’s creative spark and enormous energy are taking her into a new world, mastering website technology and new marketing techniques in a different direction close to her heart - the beauty of jewellery.

Sheila has two children, James who works in film and Charlotte who is a make-up artist. Charlotte has lent us her beautiful face and is one of the jewellery models.

Reviews

[Emma | meadowroselibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to admit, I had a hard time with this book at times...almost wishing I hadn't even started it. 😂 I've always adored flowers, but it was a little disturbing to me, learning all the origins and meanings of them. But once I got past that, I really did enjoy it! It's a very educational book when it comes to flowers. 😊

[Jasmine Shadows · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the illustrations, loved the poetry and the legends included were wonderful. Some of the meanings of flowers were surprising because some of my favorite flowers have rather sad meanings. I really enjoyed this little book, and its linger, delicate violet scent. I was surprised that the scent was still with it because I purchased this in an antique mall over a year ago. So I was delighted to once again enjoy the read and the scent. I would recommend this for all that enjoy the combination of floral illustrations and poetry. I would also recommend it for those that take delight in learning the meaning of each flower.

[Esmeralda Villanueva · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a great way to get basic knowledge about different flowers. Honestly when I got this book I thought it would be a book about story’s but it’s a book about flowers it’s super hard for me to find books like this. If anyone has any other books that are like this please let me know thank you.

[margot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute and simple read. I have always been a lover of flowers, folklore, and art, so this was the perfect book for me. very lovely vibes, and fits perfectly on the cottagecore section of my bookshelf. Reminds me a lot of "The Island Garden."

[cata:) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Es un libro perfecto para leer entre libro y libro. Me refiero a entre libro largo y otro libro largo que quieras leer.

Me encanta la estética del libro porque combina las flores, su significado, la poesía y el arte.

Es muy facil de leer y además aprendes cosas nuevas como que depende de la posición de la flor significa algo o otra cosa. Es algo muy interesante para seguir con el ritmo de la lectura.

[Agnese D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un libro completo, cada flor tiene su significado, poesía, en algunas tambien la acompaña su historia mitológica o cuentos tradizionales. Las imágenes escogidas para casa flor son perfectas y combinan con el significado.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Weeding my gardening books. I just discovered I have four books on the origin of flower names. I got rid of one, but this is one of the three I am keeping. It’s a cloth-bound hardcover that comes in a box. High quality paper and printing add to a gift quality. It has 44 flowers, and for each there is a classic poem that mentions that flower, along with one or two pieces of art where the flower appears. The text about the flower may be brief, often just a paragraph, but it’s a really nicely assembled book. I think it’s worth keeping, and may even seek out another book in this series which I think is associated with a British perfume company.

Verdict: Pretty book. Keep.

[Anne Bruin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is honestly one of the cutest, most wholesome books on my shelf. This edition specifically is a gorgeous victorian-style booklet with sweet little poems alongside the history and legends behind my favorite flowers. It's scented as well, which is absolutely amazing. I got it second-hand and it's probably already seen quite a few years and it still smells wonderful. The paper also feels really nice! All in all this isn't a novel-length book, you'll read through this in a few hours- but it's a wonderful look into the world of flower language and lore.

[Natalie Kral · Rating 5 out of 5]

I forgot to finish the last few pages of this book and gift-wrapped it for a friend, so I am just lying and saying that I finished it.

This book is gorgeous and so calming. Each flower it covers has the flower’s history and meaning, as well as a poem and a painting that contain the flower. It’s a girl’s dream. Find it. Read it.

[Carla Parreira]

No prefácio diz que a atribuição de significado às flores começou na Antiguidade. Os homens homenageavam os heróis com coroas de louro e a mitologia grega relata bastante sobre as flores. Foram os poetas que criaram o código floral exaltando tais significados e formas de uso. Vou resumidamente escrever o significado de alguma delas:
Alfazema (lavanda): desconfiança. Segundo o folclore, as cobras venenosas conhecidas como áspides gostavam de descansar sob o arbusto de alfazema e era preciso desconfiar antes de chegar à planta. Amarílis (Açucena): orgulho. Palavra de origem grega significa deslumbrante. A espécie em italiano é chamada belladonna.
Amor-perfeito: representa os pensamentos por causa do seu nome em inglês adaptado ao francês. De toda forma, o nome amor-perfeito é o mais conhecido por se relacionar a crença de que, levando consigo uma dessas flores, a pessoa asseguraria o amor de seu eleito.
Anêmona: abandonado. É uma florzinha triste. A branca significa desesperança.
Aquilégia: popularmente é a flor da leviandade, entretanto também aparece nos quadros religiosos como símbolo do Espírito Santo pela associação do seu nome em latim com as pombas.
Camélia: representa a beleza perfeita e a branca a virtude despretensiosa.
Campainha: perseverança. É uma flor silvestre resistente que cobre os bosques, mas não gosta de ser colhida, o que faz o pé definhar.
Capuchinha: patriotismo.
Centáurea (escovinha): sensibilidade.
Clematite: beleza espiritual.
Coroa-imperial: majestade e poder. Diferente da maioria das flores da família dos lírios, esta possui um perfume não muito agradável.
Cravo de defunto (tagetes): luto. Muitos conhecem pelo nome calendula (seu gênero).
Cravo: varia o significado conforme a cor - o variegado é rejeição, o amarelo é desprezo e o vermelho é o simbolismo do sangue de Cristo.
Crisântemo: vermelho é paixão, amarelo é amor desdenhado e o branco é sinceridade.
Dedaleira: falsidade. São consideradas as flores das fadas, pois cada flor parece um sino e pela lenda era nelas que se escondiam as fadas.
Dente-de-Leão: oráculo do futuro e sinceridade.
Flox: harmonia. Possui um aroma estonteante. Genciana: injustiça.
Gerânio: dependendo da coloração pode representar tristeza (escuro), amizade verdadeira (carvalho), preferência (rosa) ou consolo (escalate)
Girassol: altivez. É a planta mais alta de um jardim. Foi venerado pelos incas do Peru como símbolo do sol. Goivo: fidelidade no infortúnio.
Hera: fidelidade. Assim como o azevilho era usada pelos druidas para espantar o demônio e até hoje ainda é vista em gravuras de natal como representação de uma proteção celestial. Tais plantas eram dependuradas até na cocheira para que o leite não azedasse.
Íris: mensagem. Íris era a mensageira dos deuses gregos e aparecia para os mortais da terra em forma de arco-íris.
Jacinto: mágoa. O significado provém das historias da mitologia grega.
Jasmim: amarelo é graça e elegância, o branco é amabilidade e o espanhol é sensualidade. É famoso pelo aroma exótico e excitante.
Lilás: primeiras emoções do amor.
Lírio do vale: retorno da felicidade. É considerado uma das flores mais encantadoras pelo aroma de frescor. Lírio: pureza. Uma lenda conta que o primeiro lírio surgiu das lágrimas derramadas por Eva quando teve de deixar o Jardim do Éden.
Madressilva: índole meiga. Seu perfume doce é evocativo natural.
Malva-rosa: ambição feminina. Na China é símbolo da fertilidade.
Margarida: inocência. Na Escócia é conhecida como flor infantil por ser a favorita das crianças.
Miosótis: amor verdadeiro. Diz uma lenda que um casal andava a beira de um rio quando a moça pediu que seu amado colhesse algumas flores para ela. Nisso ele escorregou caindo com sua pesada armadura dentro do rio e foi levado pela correnteza, mas antes conseguiu jogar as flores para ela pedindo-lhe para que nunca o esquecesse. Daí o nome popular da flor ser Não-me-esqueças.
Narciso silvestre (Asfódelo): afeição e fidalguia. Muita gente acha que dá azar tê-los dentro de casa por causa das crenças gregas de Plutão.
Narciso: vaidade. A mitologia clássica explica bem o porquê desse significado.
Nenúfar (ninféias): pureza de coração.
Orquídea: uma bela dama. É uma flor extremamente apreciada.
Papoula: extravagância fantástica. A branca é a flor da sonolência.
Peônia: vergonha e timidez. A planta gosta de ter paz e quando mexida (principalmente se removida) deixa de florescer por vários anos.
Prímula: juventude.
Rosa: vermelha é amor, branca é pureza e amor espiritual, amarela é enfraquecimento do amor e infidelidade. Uma única rosa representa simplicidade. É a flor mais antiga e a mais popular, inclusive para uso de adornos ou presentes, apesar de seus espinhos desagradáveis.
Tulipa: vermelha é declaração de amor, amarela é amor sem esperança. Sua popularidade passou por muitos altos e baixos.
Verônica: fidelidade feminina.
Violeta: modéstia. É uma flor humilde e possui delicado perfume.

[MKF · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author writes books about flowers and in each book she perfumes the pages with the scent of flowers. I'm surprised when discovering these that the scents have lasted so long on many of the pages. This books scent is violets but it is faint on a few pages but my daughter still loves smelling the pages. It gives a whole new meaning to the smell of old books we all love. This is one of those gift books that is very short which means there is only a handful of flowers to learn about. Each flower starts with a poem then a brief paragraph about the flower including the meaning assigned to it. It's a wonderful little book especially for flower lovers or for lovers of poetry.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book. It is a very wholesome read about the origins of flowers and how they get their name. I enjoyed reading the poetry, myths, sonnets, and stories of flowers as the origin stories are very interesting. This book also comes with beautiful artwork that associates itself with the different types of flowers mentioned by the author.

This is a very short and simple read, but also very ethically pleasing. Our visual senses are tingled by looking through the artwork and mentally we learn the fascinating stories behind the origins of many different types of flowers.

[Mahala · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I recommend this book if you’re writing romance (or anything with a romance sub-plot) and want someone to give someone else flowers.

Some of the language was outdated or I would have given it four stars.

A fun quick read.

Edit: there are more than one books with this title. I’m 90% sure I’m reviewing the right one but a couple of the other reviews are throwing me off. Anyway - if you’re going to buy or look up the book, note that it was edited by Shelia Pickles

[Elizabeth S · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely little book gifted to me. The meaning of each flower is described and prefaced by a poem from a famous poet and illustrated by a lovely painting. It comes inside a box, with the illustration you see on the cover also on the book itself. The pages are very thick and glossy, making it a charming gift. It pulls you into its little world. It's also scented. Although my copy was published in 1990, there is still a very slight detectable scent.

[Katter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a delightful little book. You get lovely art, snippets of information about flower origins and how their different names came about. Color matters a lot in The Language of Flowers which is to be expected. Everyone knows what the red rose means! There are also little poems for each flower page. It's quite a lovely addition and the book looks good on the coffee table.

[Suzana Pereira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maravilhoso. Realmente é um tesouro para quem gosta de literatura, arte e natureza. O significado das flores são explicados em lendas, mitologias e poemas, além de imagens lindíssimas. Ganhei há 20 anos e até hoje é perfumado.

[El 🙀 · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute and simple book that reads a poem for every flower,the meaning of the flower, tells us the origin of the flower (often mixed with religion and greek mythology) and tells where and when most popular the flower was and gives us examples.

[Inês · Rating 3 out of 5]

The most beautiful book that I probably own. 🥹 Found it in a second-hand shop for super cheap and I had to bring it because of the images, plus the cover and the book sleeve were the cherry on top of the cake.

I learned some cool things about flowers but I did find the translation to be pretty bad. So I mostly just enjoyed it because of the looks of it. 🙃

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most beautiful book I've ever read. I bought the book by preloved but the scent from the cover still remains and it smelled like a flower. I also drowned by the illustrations inside the book which make me curious who's the artist that painted all of them. Very good to read!

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was meant to be read a little at a time, which is what i have done. The poetry collected and the art is very nice and this has been my "tuck me in" book most evenings for a time.

[Rachel Earling-Hopson (Misse Mouse) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful scented book with such beautiful pictures and poems of flowers of the year. It still smells lovely after being published 30 yrs ago.

[Sophie Bentley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really sweet and gorgeous book. Teaches you not only about the imagery and history of flowers but also adds lovely bits of poetry, prose and art.

[Jodell · Rating 5 out of 5]

pretty neat

[Holli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fascinating topic laid out with art and poetry!

[BornFirst089 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous art inside these pages and the poetry to match is just beautiful. A wonderful read to get a quick understanding of the meanings of flowers.

[Shannon McDermott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming and interesting

[Beka Hanks · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great tub read.

[hanna mae · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so cute! I loved the poems and very pretty paintings of the flowers and people

[Ann Dake · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book, which is a description of each flower species and the meaning of it’s origin. Loved the poetry.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful reference book, and it looks so pretty on the shelf, too!