The Secret Language of Flowers: Rediscovering Traditional Meanings

by Shane Connolly

A lavishly illustrated gift book for flower lovers reveals the historical symbolism of flowers and plants and explains how to create a bouquet that conveys the correct feelings in chapters that present detailed instructions for fifty-seven different floral arrangements, along with information on the historical meaning of each and a comprehensive glossary. 10,000 first printing.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference

160 pages, Hardcover

First published April 3, 2004

Reviews

[Laurel Zito]

I wanted to get this book and I noticed it was out of print. I had to use Able Books to get it. It was really inexpensive like maybe $5 or less. I wanted to know more about the traditional meanings of flowers like the title The Secret Language of Flowers: Rediscovering Traditional Meanings. But the book is has no content of any significance. If you asked any AI you could get a better rundown of the secret language or the traditional language of flowers then you could from buying this book. I regret buying the book, but at the time I bought it AI wasn't actually a thing.

The book has a lot of unattracted pictures and the spine is very tight, it's actually hard to hold it open and even look at them. These unattractive pictures aren't really even good botanical specimens. You can't really see the flower they're talking about because the book uses many backgrounds. This is not a book for botanists or scientists nor Is it a book for poets or lovers of beautiful language.

I was going to put this review on Library Thing but they don't even have this book on Library Thing and it's too hard to add new books. I have enough scathing reviews on Library Things so I might as well put this one here on Good Reads. I would be happy to resell this book to anyone who wanted it. Unfortunately the postage is so expensive for sending this relatively heavy book; the postage would cost way more than the $5 value. I thought about putting it in the Library book drop but they don't want anymore donations. I thought about giving it to a used bookstore but I know they would only pressure me to take trade for it. I just want to give the book away for free and I don't want to be burdened down with any more books. I prefer digital books only.

[C]

What a great book about flowers and their meanings! I really enjoyed the glossary in the back but I was shocked to learn that hydrangeas (one of my favorites) were associated with many undesirable traits: vanity, boastfulness, heartlessness and even frigidity. Yikes. It's funny when I think about how, every time I've seen them on TV, they're a favorite of a power-obsessed women like Bree Van de Kamp on Desperate Housewives, or Blair Waldorf on Gossip Girl. I'd like to think hydrangeas are just misunderstood, but this book could really teach a reader how to send a scathing bouquet....

My other favorites that were highlighted:

apple blossoms: repentance/cherry blossoms: spiritual beauty

bluebells: constancy and humility

buttercups: cheerfulness, childishness w/ a dash of lightheartedness (shamrocks)

calla lilies and ferns: feminine beauty or delicacy, and ferns are fascination

daisies: innocence and simplicity

hyacinths: constant and unchanging love

jasmine, white: amiability, friendliness
jasmine, yellow: grace and elegance

passionflowers: a hydrangea-lookalike that symbolizes faith and spirituality. It's pretty with parsley.

ranunculus: you are radiant with charms and rich in attractions (good for a friend's flagging ego)

stocks: sweet-scented, represent beauty and a happy life

zinnias: thoughts of absent friends (I think they look cheerful and contemporary)

[Sandra Espinet]

I am a flower girl! I love artistic and creative florals. So when a friend told me about "the best UK florist" I took note. Shane Connolly. He is and has been for decades, the British Royal family florist. He completed the big royal wedding among many other projects, most of his work extremely private and elaborate. His style is new traditionalist, reinventing traditional with an updated twist. He believes in using seasonal local flowers vs. flying in exotic flowers that may be out of season. This book, along with 2 others on flowers, contains beautiful pictures, and also share Shane’s wealth of information on a vast variety of flowers. Any florists out there? Love to just flip through photos of impeccably arranged flowers? Or have always wanted to learn a little bit more about these blossoming parts of nature? Pick up one of Shane's books.

[Kay]

Loved this book!

[Arielle Rae Aguilar]

It is very interesting to know the meanings of different flowers. It helps when you want to send it to someone!

[Susan]

wonderful!