There is a sentiment about flowers which appeals to the heart of everyone. The lover conveys his message of love, the friend, his token of friendship thru a bouquet or box of blooming flowers. Every incident of our busy and eventful lives can be celebrated by the gift of flowers. Births, christenings, birthdays, graduations, confirmations, weddings, anniversaries and funerals:—all are appropriately observed by the sending of plants or blossoms. It is not strange, therefore, that among most nations a sentimental language has been created in which the flower speaks its part and repeats the message of the heart. While there is no fixed vocabulary, the following table gives the sentiments most frequently associated with flowers.

By combining flowers, various shades of sentiment can be expressed and whole messages conveyed.

For instance—

A camellia, rose and carnation would mean, “Your loveliness attracts me. Smile upon me, and cheer my poor heart.”

Moss rose and myrtle mean, “Your superior merit makes me love you.”

Lily-of-the-Valley and ferns mean, “You fascinate me and my happiness returns.”

Yellow rose and ivy mean, “My love increases, can I hope for matrimony?”

A rosebud divested of its thorns, but retaining its leaves, conveys the sentiment, “I fear no longer; I hope.” Stripped of leaves and thorns, it signifies, “There is nothing to hope or fear.”

A full-blown rose placed over two buds signifies “Secrecy.” “Yes,” is implied by touching the flower given to the lips. “No,” by pinching off a petal and casting it away. “I am,” is expressed by a laurel leaf, twined around the bouquet. “I have,” by an ivy leaf folded together. “I offer you,” by a leaf of Virginia creeper.