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Flowers have historically symbolized different sentiments, symbols, myths and meanings to different cultures and traditions all over the world.
History
The tradition of interpreting various flowers to convey different emotions was a common practice in England during the Victorian Era in the late 19th century. While historically flowers have been used to symbolize or represent a wide array of meaning; in contemporary western civilization, understanding flowers' meanings relates to the near past of Victorian times. During the Victorian Era, there was an inexhaustible lexicon of definitions for each flower, its color, the way it was displayed and flower etiquette rules. For example, a yellow carnation means something wildly different than a red carnation. This dictionary of meaning is called "floriography."
Gardenias
Gardenias, according to Victorian expression, were given to express a demure, refined admiration, and secret love for another. Gardenias were also commonly represented in Victorian artwork to help illustrate an air of elegance and loveliness.
Native Origins
Gardenias are native to Asia, Africa and Australia.
Identification
Gardenias are highly fragrantand range in tones from white to creamy colors. The flower is contrasted with very rich and dark green plant leaves.
Maintenance
Gardeners who grow this exotic flower must maintain consistent humidity conditions and provide indirect sunlight.
Famous Ties
Singer Billie Holiday was known for wearing gardenias in her hair. According to legend, Ms. Holiday was curling her hair before going on stage and burnt her tresses. In an attempt to cover it up, Ms. Holiday saw a gardenia and placed it decoratively over the imperfection. After the event, wearing gardenias became a signature to her look.
Source:
Angelfire.com: Victorian Language of Flowers
TheFlowerExpert.com: Flower Meanings
Resource:
TLT.com: Floriography
PressPublications.com: Language of Flowers
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