Discover Your Birth Month Flower & Meanings ~ Demystifying The Language of Flowers & Where to Wear Flowers!

Art of the Garden

Jan 14

What better way to kick off the new year than to learn about the beauty and meaning of every month’s unique flowers. Long before “texting,” flowers were a way to send secret messages. What does your birth flower symbolize and say about you and your family “tree?” Here is a guide to help you explore the language of flowers; the legends and folklore for every beautiful month from God’s flower ~ “my” Carnation to Jonquil's power of Hope. And how to wear flowers.

We can never learn enough about flowers and their special languages so I wanted to reprise this exploration into Floriography, the “secret, symbolic language of flowers, where different blooms and colors convey specific messages, emotions, or sentiments.”

It seems natural to me to start the floral festivities by celebrating January’s “official” flower: the Carnation. And it is my birthday month, after all!

I must admit, I didn’t always cotton to the carnation (or for that matter, to our birthday gem: the garnet).

I rudely thought it was too common… Too banal.

But boy, was I wrong.

Carnations are sooo captivating.

Why, you ask? See here:

I read that the “Capricorn" is just like their birth flower, the carnation: they can be bold on the outside. But Capricorns also have a softer personality under their bright exterior.”

Very, very true.

The carnation flower, Dianthus caryophyllus or clove pink is a species of Dianthus that symbolizes Love, Captivation and Distinction.

Does that sound in any way banal?? No.

Carnations are uplifting and sweet.

The carnation represents Fascination, Distinction, and Love.

It also makes a lovely addition to any floral design because of its long-lasting freshness and fragrance that is a bit like, well, sweet cloves… ahhh.

I’m a sucker for flower legends and folklore and so can’t resist sharing this one about my January birthday flower.

According to a Christian legend, carnations grew from the Virgin Mary's tears as she watched Jesus carry the cross. This is how they became associated with a pure, eternal, motherly love.

Carnations are said to bring a mother good luck.

Or, how about this legendary flower lore:

The flower of God is Dianthus caryophyllus or Carnation . The name is a fusion of the Greek words "dios" and "anthos."

The Greek god Zeus is depicted by "dios," and "anthos" means flower.

That's why the Carnation is recognized as “God's Flower.”

But enough about me and my fabulous flower 😉

Here is the list of Flowers for every month, along with their meanings:

January ~ Carnation & Snowdrop

Carnation: Fascination, Female love, Mother’s love

Red Carnation: Deep love

White Carnation: Innocence, pure love, sweet love, good luck

Pink Carnation: Remembrance, Gratitude, Thankfulness

Striped: Regret (Personally, I love these candy-cane beauties)

Yellow Carnation: Disappointment, Rejection ~ But I say, “JOY!”

February ~ Violet & Primrose

Violets: Watchfulness, Modesty, Faithfulness

March ~ Daffodil & Jonquil

Daffodil: Unequaled Love

Jonquil: Hope, Rebirth, New Beginnings

April ~ Daisy & Sweet Pea

Daisy: Innocence, Purity, Loyalty, Simplicity~The Daisy represents the sun.

Sweet Pea: Loyalty, Friendship, Pleasure

May ~ Lily of the Valley & Hawthorn

Lily-of-the-Valley Sweetness, Tears of the Virgin Mary, Humility

Hawthorn: Happiness, Faith, Beauty, Hope ~ and the pretty state flower of Missouri!

June ~ Rose & Honeysuckle

Red Rose: Love

Dark Crimson Rose: Mourning

Pink Rose: Happiness

White Rose: Innocence, Heavenly, Purity, Youthfulness

Yellow Rose: Friendship, Happiness ~ JOY! (they used to mean infidelity)

July ~ Larkspur & Water Lily

Larkspur: Open heart, Levity, Lightness, Fickleness (pink)

Water Lily: Purity, Enlightenment, Rebirth

August ~ Gladiolus & Poppy

Gladiolus: Flower of the Gladiators, Integrity, Strength, Victory

Poppy: Consolation, Peace, Sleep, Death

September ~ Aster & Morning Glory

Aster: Symbol of Love, Daintiness

Morning Glory: Affection, Serenity, Trust, Longing

October ~ Marigold & Cosmos

Marigold: Joy, Excitement, Good Luck, Grief, Jealousy, Creativity

Cosmos: Harmony, Peace, Tranquility

November ~ Chrysanthemum

I feel sorry for November babies because it’s the only month that the Farmer’s Almanac assigned only one flower to 🤔 so, I’m gifting November the Winter Blooming Camellias and the Dahlia! You’re welcome.

Red Chrysanthemum: Love

Yellow Chrysanthemum: Happiness, Joy, Celebration

White Chrysanthemum: Truth, Loyalty, Honesty, Innocence, Grief

Camellias: Eternal Love, Affection, Admiration

Dahlia: Gratefulness, Kindness, Elegance, Creativity, Positivity

December ~ Narcissus & Holly

Holly: Defense, Domestic Happiness

Narcissus: Rebirth, Reflection, Vanity, Forgiveness, Vitality

Floriography ~ The Language of Flowers: How Did Flowers Come to Symbolize Emotions and Secret Messages?

Following the protocol of Victorian-era etiquette, flowers were primarily used to deliver messages that couldn’t be spoken aloud. In a sort of silent dialogue, flowers could be used to answer “yes” or “no” questions. A “yes” answer came in the form of flowers handed over with the right hand; if the left hand was used, the answer was “no.”

The different meanings attributed to variously colored carnations, for example. Pink meant “I’ll never forget you”; red said “my heart aches for you”; purple conveyed capriciousness; white meant to mean “the sweet and lovely”; and yellow expressed romantic rejection.

There is a language, little known,

Lovers claim it as their own.

Its symbols smile upon the land,

Wrought by nature’s wondrous hand;

And in their silent beauty speak,

Of life and joy, to those who seek

For Love Divine and sunny hours

In the language of the flowers.

–The Language of Flowers, London, 1875

How to Share and Wear the Flowers?

So now you know what bouquets to send to your March baby or your August love. You can pick the flowers from your garden to make a lovely birthday or hostess gift. Or order them from your favorite flower shop, and even the grocery store.
Embrace a perfume that embodies top notes of the birth flower.

Why not make a true Victorian fashion accessory ~ the Tussy Mussy?

The Tussy Mussy, or Nosegay, was a hand-held small bouquet that was wrapped in a cone-shaped container. They were originally carried to ward off the bad smells of the street or other people. (Remember, bathing was its own kind of luxury!)

Likewise, Boutonnieres and Corsages were originally used to surround the wearer with a pleasant smell as well as ward off evil spirits or identify one’s team. Men wore red or white boutonnieres on Mother’s Day to indicate if their Mother was alive or not. Corsages were used by French women at weddings or funerals: “bouquet de corsage.”

Both became symbols of weddings and proms, customs that are still in use today.

I love giving my Mother a special wrist corsage for Mother’s Day and her Birthday.

I wear them at weddings and other special occasions. If you’re planning a wedding, you can gift them to special guests to wear.

And whether you call it a floral Head Wreath, a Laurel, an Avionic, a Vinok, a Flower Crown, a Chaplet, a Coronal, it’s been a symbol of triumph since ancient Rome, who adopted the custom from the Greeks. It was also a way to honor the gods, and as heroes of the Olympics.

I couldn’t take my chaplet off! Wore it to dinner

The world over uses Chaplets to represent fertility, love, celebration.

Frida Kahlo used her flower coronal to represent rebellion and female empowerment.

Polish ladies and girls wear them for “Dyngus Day” to symbolize purity and rebirth for all the single ladies who wear a flower crown. In the same way, the lavish Ukrainian Vinok is worn for love, fertility, national pride and hope for the future.

Queen Victoria wore a crown of orange blossoms when she married Prince Albert.

Asian cultures too, have traditions of wearing floral crowns for weddings.

I’m a true “Flower Child,” and not surprisingly have several charming floral crowns made of both faux flowers and even a bejeweled one or two that I love to accessorize with for special occasions! Plus, Mother’s favorite flower, inspired a favorite friend, Gigi, to gift her a lovely Daisy crown to help celebrate her 100th birthday in July!

What’s not to love about wearing flowers? (I still love the wristlet corsages and wear them for happy occasions.) How do you wear your flowers?

Let’s not overlook adorning your home with floral door wreaths, boutonnieres (the newest red carpet look à la brooches) and the most glamorous “Garden-to-Glass” edible floral drink garnishs! And for those of you who don’t know, I was so enamored of this phenomenon that I wrote a book about it: The Art of the Garnish