As I became interested in collecting and now selling vintage ladies handkerchiefs I found that you can tell a story or express a message to someone by giving them handkerchiefs with certain flowers embroidered or printed on them. Ladies hankies are great gifts to send to far away friends in birthday, get well, or friendship cards. Hopefully this list will help you out in determining the meaning of certain flowers you find on your vintage ladies handkerchiefs. Enjoy!
Acacia - Secret love
Acorn - Nordic symbol of life and immortality
Agapanthus - Love letters, love.
Alium – Strength
Aloe - Grief
Allspice - Compassion
Alstromeria - Wealth, prosperity, fortune
Alyssum (sweet) - Worth beyond beauty
Ambrosia - Love returned
Amaryllis - Pride; Timidity
Anemone - Unfading love, forsaken
Angelica - Inspiration
Aniseed - Restoration of youth
Anthurium - Lover
Apple - Preference
Apple Blossom – Good Fortune, state flower of Arkansas & Michigan
Arbutis – Thee only do I love
Artemesia - Symbol of Dignity
Asparagus Fern – Fascination
Aster - Love; daintiness
Azalea - Take care of yourself for me; fragile passion; Chinese symbol of womanhood
Bachelor Button - Celibacy
Baby's Breath - Everlasting Love, happiness
Balsam - Ardent love
Basil - Best Wishes, Love
Bay Leaf - Strength
Begonia - Beware
Bells Of Ireland - Good luck
Bird Of Paradise - Magnificence
Bittersweet - Truth
Bluebell - Humility; constancy
Borage - Courage
Bouquet of withered flowers - Rejected love
Bouvardia: Enthusiasm.
Broom - Humility
Burnet - A merry heart
Buttercup - Cheerfulness
Cactus - Endurance; warmth,state flower of Arizon
Calendula - Joy
Calla Lilly - Magnificent beauty, associated with the sixth wedding anniversary.
Camellia - Admiration; perfection, good luck gift to a man, state flower of Alabama
Camellia Pink - Longing for you.
Camellia Red - You're a flame in my heart.
Camellia White -You're adorable.
Candytuft - indifference
Carnation (in general) Bonds of affection, health and energy; fascination, woman love, also the birthday flower for January
Carnation (pink) - I'll never forget you A Mother’s Love
Carnation (purple) – Capriciousness, whimsical, changeable
Carnation (red) - My heart aches for you, admiration ,state flower for Ohio
Carnation (solid color) -Yes
Carnation (striped)- No; refusal, sorry I can't be with you, wish I could be with you
Carnation (white) -Sweet and lovely, innocence; pure love, woman's good luck gift, often handed out on Mother's Day to symbolize the purity and strength of motherhood.
Carnation (yellow) – Rejection, disdain, you disappoint me
Cattail – Peace, prosperity
Chamomile – Patience, attracts wealth
Chrysanthemum (in general) - Cheerfulness; You're a wonderful friend ,also the birthday flower for November
Chrysanthemum (red) - I love
Chrysanthemum (white) - Truth
Chrysanthemum (yellow) -Slighted love
Clematis - Clever, intellectual, associated with the eighth wedding anniversary.
Columbine – Mental beauty, Colorado state flower
Coreopsis - Always cheerful
Coriander - Lust
Cornflower - Delicacy
Cosmos – Modesty, associated with the 2nd wedding anniversary.
Cowslip - Pensiveness; winning grace
Crocus – Cheerfulness, abuse not
Cyclamen - Resignation and goodbye
Clover - Good luck
Daffodil - Respect, chivalry, associated with the tenth wedding anniversary, also the birthday flower for March.
Daisy – Innocence, He loves me he loves me not, associated with the fifth wedding anniversary
Dahlia - Instability. Associated with the fourteenth wedding anniversary
Dandelion - Wishes come true
Day Lily - Coquetry, Chinese emblem for mother, associated with the twentieth wedding anniversary
Delphinium - Big-hearted, fun
Dogwood – Durability, state flower for North Carolina & Virginia
Ebony - Blackness
Edelweiss - Daring, Noble Courage
Eremurus - Endurance.
Euphorbia - Persistence
Eucalyptus – Protection
Fennel - Worthy of all praise
Fern – Sincerity
Fern - (Magic) – Fascination, confidence and shelter
Fern- (Maidenhair) - Secret bond of love
Feverfew - Protection
Fir - Time
Flax - Domestic symbol; fate
Flytrap - Deceit.
Forget-me-not - True love, memories, hope, state flower of Alaska
Forsythia - Anticipation
Four Leaf Clover - Good luck, be mine.
Foxglove- Insincerity.
Freesia - Innocence, thoughtfulness.
Fuschia – Taste, associated with the third wedding anniversary
Gardenia - You're lovely; secret love, joy, sweet love, good luck
Garland of roses - Reward of virtue
Garlic - Courage; strength
Geranium (Scented) – Preference, melancholy, associated with the fourth wedding anniversary.
Gladiolus - Love at first sight, tells recipients that they pierce the heart like a sword. Because the gladiolus has blade-shaped leaves, the name comes from the Latin word gladius, which means sword, also the birthday flower for August.
Gloxina - Love at first sight
Grass - Submission; utility
Heather (lavender) – Admiration, solitude
Heather (white) – Protection, wishes will come true
Hibiscus - Delicate beauty
Holly - Good will, Defense, domestic happiness; foresight
Hollyhock -: Ambition, fruitfulness, associated with the thirteenth wedding anniversary.
Honeysuckle - Generous and devoted affection, sweet disposition
Hyacinth (general) - Games and sports; rashness, flower dedicated to Apollo
Hyacinth (blue) - Constancy
Hyacinth ( purple) - I'm sorry, please forgive me; sorrow
Hyacinth (red or pink) - Play
Hyacinth (white) – Loveliness, I'll pray for you
Hyacinth (yellow) - Jealousy
Hydrangea - Thank you for understanding, frigidity, heartlessness
Hyssop - Wards away evil spirits
Iris - Faith; hope; wisdom and valor, Fleur-de-lis, emblem of France, your friendship means so much to me, my compliments, associated with the twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, state flower for Tennessee
Ivy - Fidelity and friendship
Ivy - sprig of white tendrils - Anxious to please, affection
Jack in the pulpit - Associated with the seventh wedding anniversary
Jasmine - Amiability; attracts wealth, sensuality
Jasmine (Yellow) - Grace, elegance.
Jonquil - Love me, affection returned, desire, sympathy, desire for a return of affection
Juniper Protection
Lady Slipper - Capricious beauty, state flower for Minnesota
Larkspur – Fickleness, also the birthday flower for July
Larkspur purple - First love.
Lavender – Devotion, distrust, Induces sleep
Lemon - Zest
Lemon Balm - Brings love
Lemon verbena - Attracts opposite sex
Lilac - Youthful, humility, confidence, state flower of New Hampshire
Lily (general) - Keeps unwanted visitors away
Lily (calia) - Beauty
Lily (day) - Coquetry
Lily (eucharis) - Maiden charms
Lily (orange) – I burn for you
Lily (tiger) – Wealth, pride
Lily (white) – Virginity, purity; majesty, it's heavenly to be with you, The Easter lily is also known as the symbol of the Virgin Mary.
Lily (yellow) - I'm walking on air; false and gay
Lily of the valley – sweetness, return to happiness; humility, purity, you've made my life complete, birthday flower for May, Legend says that Mary’s tears turned into Lily of the valley at the foot of the cross
Magnolia - Sweetness; beauty, love of nature, state flower for Louisiana & Mississippi
Marigold - Comforts the heart, grief
Mint - Protection from illness, warmth of feeling
Marjoram (sweet) - Joy and happiness
Mimosa - Sensitivity
Mistletoe - Kiss me, affection, to surmount difficulties, sacred plant of India, state flower for Oklahoma
Monkshood - Beware, a deadly foe is near, chivalry
Morning Glory - Loves you, associated with the eleventh wedding anniversary.
Moss - Maternal love, charity
Myrtle – Love, Hebrew emblem of marriage
Narcissus - Egotism; formality, stay as sweet as you are
Nasturtium – Conquest, victory in battle, maternal love, charity, patriotism, associated with fortieth wedding anniversary
Oleander – Caution, beware
OLIVE BRANCH - Peace
Orange Generosity
Orange Blossom - Brings wisdom, state flower for Florida
Orange Mock – Deceit, state flower of Idaho
Orchid - Love; beauty; refinement, beautiful lady, Chinese symbol for many children Orchid (cattleya) - Mature charm, associated with twenty-eighth wedding anniversary
Palm leaves - Victory and success
Pansy – Thoughts, love, recipient is being thought about. The flower's name comes from the French word pensée, which means thought or remembrance, associated with the first wedding anniversary
Paperwhite - Aphrodisiac due to its intoxicating scent. It is also the national flower of Wales because it often blooms on March 1st, which is St. David's feast day, Wales' patron saint.
Peach Blossom – Longevity, Generosity and Bridal Hope, state flower of Delaware
Pear Blossom: Health and Hope
Peony – bashfulness, Aphrodisiac, happy marriage, associated with the twelfth wedding anniversary, state flower for Indiana
Petunia – Resentment, anger, oblivious, imagination
Phlox – Unanimity, agreement,
Poinsettia - Be of Good Cheer, Traditional Christmas flower
Poppy - extravagance, associated with ninth wedding anniversary
Poppy (red) – Pleasure, consolation
Poppy (white) – Consolation, sleep
Poppy( yellow) – Wealth, success
Poppy (orange) State Flower of California
Prickly Pear - Satire
Primrose - I can't live without you; early youth
Primrose(evening) - Inconstancy
Queen Anne's Lace - Fantasy
Rose (general) – Love, I love you, associated with fifteenth wedding anniversary, state flower for New York
Rose (black) –Death
Rose(burgundy) – Mourning
Rose(damask) - Brilliant complexion
Rose (lavender)- Love at first sight
Rose (orange) - Fascination, display feeling of enthusiasm
Rose (peach) - Desire, gratitude, appreciation, admiration, sympathy, modesty.
Rose (pink) - Perfect happiness, please believe me, friendship
Rose (red) I love you, courage, beauty
Rose (red and white) – Together, unity
Rose( white) - Eternal Love, innocence, heavenly, secrecy and silence, purity
Rose(Yellow) - Friendship , jealousy, try to care, decrease of love, infidelity
Rose(thorn less) - Love at first sight
Rose( single, full bloom) - I love you, I still love you, simplicity
Rose bud - Beauty and youth, a heart innocent of love
Rose bud (red) - Pure and lovely
Rose bud(white) - Girlhood
Rosebud (moss) - Confessions of love
Roses (Bouquet of full bloom) - Gratitude
Roses( Garland or crown of) - Beware of virtue, reward of merit, crown, symbol of superior merit
Roses ( musk cluster) - Charming
Rose(tea) - I'll always remember
Rose(cabbage) - Ambassador of love
Rose(Christmas) - Tranquilize my anxiety, anxiety
Rose(hibiscus) - Delicate beauty
Rose leaf - You may hope
Rosemary - Remembrance
Sage Wisdom - long life
Salvia -(blue) I think of you
Smilax - Loveliness
Snapdragon - Deception, gracious lad, presumption
Snowdrop- Hope and Consolation
Spiderflower - Elope with me
Stephanotis - Happiness in marriage, desire to travel
Stock - Lasting beauty
Strawberry - Perfect goodness
Sunflower - Loyalty; wishes, worshipped by the Inca Indians as a symbol of the sun, haughtiness
Sweetpea - Goodbye; departure, blissful pleasure, Thank you for a lovely time, associated with thirtieth wedding anniversary
Sweet William - Gallantry, smile, finesse
Thyme - Strength and courage, ensures restful sleep
Tulip (general) - Fame, charity, perfect lover, emblem of Holland
Tulip (red) - Believe me, declaration of love
Tulip (variegated) - Beautiful eyes
Tulip (yellow) - Hopeless love
Violet – Modesty, calms tempers, associated with the fiftieth wedding anniversary. Also known as the birthday flower of February, state flower of Illinois, New Jersey & Rhode Island
Violet (blue) – Watchfulness, faithfulness, I'll always be true
Violet (white) - Let's take a chance on happiness
Viscaria - Will you dance with me?
Wallflower - Friendship, Adversity
Water Lily – Purity of heart
Woodruff - sweet humility
Yarrow – healing, sorrow
Zinnia - Thoughts of friends
Zinnia (magenta) - Lasting affection
Zinnia (mixed) - Thinking of an absent friend
Zinnia (scarlet) - Constancy
Zinnia (white) - Goodness
Zinnia (yellow) - Daily remembrance
Looking for pretty flowery handkerchiefs? Check here: http://www.nanaluluslinensandhandkerchiefs.com/
Luanne R Oda aka NANALULU nanaluluslinensandhandkerchiefs.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Luanne_Oda
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Did you know you can convey your sentiments to someone without ever saying a word? That is of course if they happen to speak the Language of Flowers. Everyone loves beautiful flowers and it appears since ancient times that they had special symbolism. In the book Song of Solomon in the Bible you will find the loved one calling herself a Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the Valley. Authors and poets often use flowers in their writings. The language of flowers became especially significant in the romantic Victorian era.