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Flowers and Their Meaning
"Yes," is implied by touching the flower given to the lips; "No," by pinching off a petal and casting it away.
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Blue violet - faithfulness 
Heliotrope - devotion 
Red poppy - consolation 
White daisy - innocence 
Zinnia - thoughts of absent friends 
Red rose - a special wish will be granted 
Roses and their meaning
 

Flowers and their meaning

From: ae498@yfn.ysu.edu (Dawn Bott)  this whole flower language started in Constantinople in the 1600s, and was brought to England in 1716 by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu who had spent time in Turkey with her husband. The interest then moved to France (of course) where the Book Le Langage des Fleurs was printed with over 800 floral signs. Many were toned down in the English translation at the time of Queen Victoria because they were quite lusty and risque! (aww..wish i could get my hands on an original Frence copy!!) anyway...here are a few "nice" ones.. 
  • White rosebud - heart ignorant of love
  • Crocus - abuse not
  • Rhubarb (!) - advice 
  • Indian jasmine - attachment 
  • Holly - Am I forgotten 
  • Deep red carnation - Alas! for my poor heart 
  • Deep red rose - bashful shame 
  • Full red rose - beauty 
  • Burgundy rose - unconscious beauty (hmm?) 
  • Unique rose - call me not beautiful 
  • Turnip(!) - charity 
  • Chrysanthemum - cheerfulness in old age 
  • Buttercup - childishness 
  • Great yellow daffodil - chivalry 
  • Lettuce - coldheartedness (i guess! [iceberg..get it?] ;) 
  • Moss rosebud - confession of love 
  • Red poppy - consolation
  • Red tulip - declaration of love 
  • Yellow sweetbrier or yellow rose - decrease of love 
  • Mistletoe - difficulties, I surmount 
  • Yellow carnation - rue, distain 
  • Thornless rose - early attachment 
  • Anemone - expectation 
  • Scarlet poppy - extravagance, fantastic 
  • Blue violet - faithfulness 
  • Purple lilac - first emotions of love 
  • Forget-me-not - hmm....gee? 
  • Damask rose - freshness 
  • White rose - i am worthy of you 
  • Peach blossom - i am your captive 
  • Iris - i have a message for you 
  • White daisy - innocence 
  • Yellow rose - jealousy
  • Dandelion - love's oracle 
  • Lotus flower - estranged love 
  • Ivy - marriage 
  • Provence rose - my heart is in flames 
  • Yellow iris - passion 
  • Dog rose - pleasure and pain 
  • Christmas rose - relieve my anxiety
  • Filbert - reconciliation 
  • Spanish jasmine - sensuality 
  • Peony - shame 
  • White poppy - sleep 
  • Yellow chrysanthemum - slighted love 
  • Amarylis - splendid beauty 
  • Honeyflower - sweet and secret love 
  • Pansy - thoughts 
  • Zinnia - thoughts of absent friends 
  • Forget-me-not also means true love 
  • White and red rose together - unity 
  • Parsley - useful knowledge
  • Pink carnation - woman's love 
  • Lady slipper - win me and wear me (i swear that's what it says!) 
  • Marigold - vulger minded 
  • Rosemary - your presence revives me 
  • Ice plant - your looks freeze me 


Excerpted from the alt.romance FAQ. More flower meanings there. 

Flowers

  • Red rose Love
  • Yellow rose Friendship
  • White rose Fear
  • Pink rose Indecision
  • Blue rose Uniqueness
Arrangements
  • Reversed flower Meaning is also reversed
  • Rosebud with leaves but no thorns "I fear no longer; I hope."
  • Rosebud with neither leaves nor thorns "There is nothing to hope or fear."
  • Full blown rose over two buds Secrecy
  • Laurel leaf twined around bouquet "I am"
  • Ivy leaf folded together "I have"
  • Leaf of Virginia creeper "I offer you"

Carnations
Color Messages
For the most part, carnations express love, fascination, and distinction. Light red carnations represent admiration, while dark red denote deep love and affection. White carnations indicate pure love and good luck; striped symbolize a regret that a love cannot be shared. Green carnations are for St. Patrick's Day; purple carnations indicate capriciousness. 
Pink carnations have the most symbolic and historical significance. According to Christian legend, carnations first appeared on Earth as Jesus carried the Cross. The Virgin Mary shed tears at Jesus' plight, and carnations sprang up from where her tears fell. Thus the pink carnation became the symbol of a mother's undying love, and in 1907 was chosen by Ann Jarvis as the emblem of Mother's Day, now observed in the United States and Canada on the second Sunday in May.

The Language of Flowers

Flowers may be combined and arranged so as to express even the nicest shades of sentiment. If a flower is offered "reversed", its direct signification is likewise reversed, so that the flower now means the opposite. A rosebud divested of its thorns, but retaining its leaves, convays 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 places 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 arround the bouquet; "I have", "by an ivy leaf folded together; "I offer you", by a leaf of Virginia creeper. 

Combinations
  • Moss Rosebud and Myrtle. - A confession of love. 
  • Mignonette and Coloured Daisy. - Your qualities surpass your charms of beauty. 
  • Lily of the Valley and Ferns. - Your unconscious sweetness has fascinated me. 
  • Yellow Rose, Broken Straw and Ivy. - Your jealousy has broken our friendship. 
  • Scarlet Geranium, Passion Flower, Purple Hyacinth, and Arbor Vitae. - I trust you will find consolation, through faith, in your sorrow; be assured of my unchanging friendship. 
  • Columbine, Day Lily, Broken Straw, Witch Hazel and Coloured Daisy. - Your folly and coquetry have broken the spell of your beauty. 
  • White Pink, Canary Grass and Laurel. - Your talent and perseverance will win you glory. 
  • Golden-rod, Monkshead, Sweet Pea and Forget-me-not.- Be cautious; danger is near; I depart soon; forget me not.

More Flowers and their meaning 
  • ABOR VITAE - Unchanging friendship.
  • CAMELIA, WHITE. - Loveliness.
  • CANDY-TUFF. - Indifference.
  • CARNATION, DEEP RED. - Alas! for my poor heart.
  • CARNATION, WHITE. - Distain.
  • CHINA-ASTER. - Variety.
  • CLOVER, FOUR-LEAF. - Be mine.
  • CLOVER, WHITE. - Think of me.
  • CLOVER, RED. - Industry.
  • COLUMBINE. - Folly.
  • COLUMBINE, PURPLE. - Resolved to win.
  • DAISY. - Innocence.
  • DEAD LEAVES. - Sadness.
  • DEADLY NIGHTSHADE. - Falsehood.
  • FERN. - Fascination.
  • FORGET-ME-NOT. - True love. Forget me not.
  • FUCHSIA, SCARLET. - Taste.
  • GERANIUM, SCARLET. - Consolation.
  • GERANIUM, ROSE. - Preference.
  • GOLDEN-ROD. - Be cautious.
  • HELIOTROPE. - Devotion.
  • HONEY-FLOWER. - Love, sweet and secret.
  • HYACINTH, WHITE. - Unobtrusive loveliness.
  • IVY. - Fidelity.
  • LADY'S SLIPPER. - Win me and wear me.
  • LILY, DAY. - Coquetry
  • LILY, WHITE. - Sweetness.
  • LILY, YELLOW. - Gaiety.
  • LILY OF THE VALLEY. - Return of happiness.
  • MIGNONETTE. - Your qualities surpass your charms.
  • MONKSHEAD. - Danger is near.
  • MYRTLE. - Love.
  • OATS. - The witching soul of music.
  • ORANGE BLOSSOMS. - Chastity.
  • PANSY. - Thoughts.
  • PASSION FLOWER. - Faith.
  • PEACH BLOSSOM. - I am your captive.
  • PEAR. - Affection.
  • PRIMROSE. - Inconstancy.
  • QUAKING GRASS. - Agitation.
  • ROSE. - Love.
  • ROSE, DEEP RED. - Bashful shame.
  • ROSE, YELLOW. - Jealousy.
  • ROSE, WHITE. - I am worthy of you.
  • ROSEBUD, MOSS. - Confession of love.
  • SHAMROCK. - Lightheartedness.
  • STRAW. - Agreement.
  • STRAW, BROKEN. - Broken agreement.
  • SWEEP PEA. - Depart.
  • TUBEROSE. - Dangerous pleasures.
  • VERBENA. - Pray for me.
  • WITCH HAZEL. - A spell.


The Language of Flowers

Flowers may be combined and arranged so as to express even the nicest shades of sentiment. If a flower is offered "reversed", its direct signification is likewise reversed, so that the flower now means the opposite. A rosebud divested of its thorns, but retaining its leaves, convays 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 places 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 arround the bouquet; "I have", "by an ivy leaf folded together; "I offer you", by a leaf of Virginia creeper. 
This whole flower language started in Constantinople in the 1600s, and was brought to England in 1716 by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu who had spent time in Turkey with her husband. The interest then moved to France (of course) where the Book Le Langage des Fleurs was printed with over 800 floral signs. Many were toned down in the English translation at the time of Queen Victoria because they were quite lusty and risque! (wish i could get my hands on an original French copy!!)