looming blooms

Peony ~ Plant of Healing

"Happy Life and Prosperity"

Peonies, 5 July 2011

It is believed that Peony is named after Paeon (also known as Paean), 

who was a healing deity who had healed Hades’ and Ares’ wounds. 

The flower myth related, says that Paeon was a student of Asclepius, 

the god of medicine and healing. 

He was once instructed by Leto (Apollo's mother and goddess of fertility) 

to obtain a magical root growing on Mount Olympus
that would soothe the pain of women in childbirth. 

Asclepius became jealous and threatened to kill his pupil.
Zeus saved Paeon from the wrath of Asclepius by turning him into the peony flower.

Floriography

 Flora's Dictionary

 "By a Lady"
Elizabeth Washington Gamble Wirt, 1784-1857
Originally published in Baltimore by Fielding Lucas, June 1829.
This first dictionary of flower meanings can be viewed in full (scanned version) (or downloaded to your Kindle) thanks to the contribution from the University of California Libraries to the Internet Archive.


My appreciation grows for these scanned copies of treasured books for the sake availability and record, but oh how I'd appreciate even more being able to hold an original copy.

Ms Wirt's floral dictionary was one of a number published during the Victorian Age; when gardening for leisure flourished, and propriety meant constraint, the symbolic use of flowers was a means of expression. Floriography, or the meaning of flowers, has continued to serve as a instrument of the romantic gesture. What I adore about Flora's Dictionary is the combination of science and folklore. The book begins by setting the stage for a botanist's study, but the references aren't direct and are quoted from literature, namely poetry - the songs of the heart.

Often the message is as much about the colour of the flower as the flower itself. Over time, the language of  these emblems of emotion has been reconstructed; for instance Ms Wirt's yellow Tulip symbolized hopeless love, while now is commonly known to speak for cheerfulness. Innocent Daisies stand over time, but the Foxglove Digitalis evolves from "a wish" according to Flora's Dictionary to being known as "dead man's bells" or "witches gloves" due to the potency of the plant's chemicals.
Whatever their meaning, flower symbolism continues to satisfy the human psyche, and the heart. With Valentine's Day quickly approaching I'm quite certain the florists will be busy interpreting the language of flowers.

As always, I recommend reading A Contemplation Upon Flowers by Bobby J. Ward.

 Also

The Language of Flowers; With Illustrative Poetry by Frederic Shoberl
Lea & Blanchard, 1848
Harvard

Flora Symbolica or, The Language and Sentiment of Flowers. Including floral poetry, original and selected.
by John Henry Ingram
Published in 1869, F. W. Warne and co. (London)



Flora Symbolica: Flowers in Pre-Raphaelite Art by Debra Mancoff
978-3791328515
Prestel, 2003

books I wish I owned cont.

Goody, Jack. THE CULTURE OF FLOWERS. NY, Cambridge, 1994, 462pp. An unusual look at the themes and transactional uses of flowers across different cultures.
 ( also available from The AMERICAN BOTANIST Booksellers )

Grannis, Ruth (ed). PLANT ILLUSTRATION BEFORE 1850. NY, Grolier Club, 1992, (1941) 33pp., wraps & conts. NEW. This is reprint of a catalogue of an exhibition of books, drawings and prints. Containing no illustrations itself, it does a good job of outlining the important botanical texts, giving woodcut and plate numbers.

Mules, Mrs. Helen et. al. FLOWERS IN BOOKS AND DRAWINGS. NY, Pierpont Morgan Library, 1980, 80pp., paper, conts. VG. Covers 141 titles, with numerous illustrations between 940 and 1840. .

Phipps, Frances. COLONIAL KITCHENS, THEIR FURNISHINGS, AND THEIR GARDENS. NY, Hawthorn, 1972, 346pp., DJ lite wear, cloth & conts. VG. Based on settler journals & traveler's diaries. An accurate look back.

Wright, Richardson. THE WINTER DIVERSIONS OF A GARDENER. Phila., Lippincott, 1934, 1st ed., 356pp., DJ chipped & worn, cloth & conts. VG. Travels, hermits and the like.

University of Guelph stuff (and some books)

http://www.horticulturecertificates.com/

University of Guelph Library resources:
www.lib.uoguelph.ca/facilities/offcampus.cfmwww

http://www.lib.uoguelph.ca/help/guides/index.cfm?code=hort

some books I want:

The Meaning of Gardens (Francis & Hester)
The MIT Press; New Ed edition (8 April 1992)
978-0262560610

The Oxford Companion to Gardens (Goode & Lancaster)
Oxford University Press; New Ed edition (30 Sep 2001)
978-0198604402

Recommended by and loaned to me from Cindy (thank you) - I really love this book!
The Language of Flowers (ed. Sheila Pickles)
Harmony Books, Crown Punlishers, Inc.
0-517-57460-8

Science and the Garden: The Scientific Basis of Horticultural Practice (David Ingram)
Blackwell Science Ltd (30 Jul 2002)
978-0632053087