The Language of Flowers Symbols
and Myths (Prestel Minis) by Marina
Heilmeyer
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Attractive, affordable, and adorable, these miniature versions of popular
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enough to fit into a pocket or purse. They’re as inviting to the eye as they
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Personal Review: The Language of Flowers Symbols and Myths
(Prestel Minis) by Marina Heilmeyer
Anyone who has read the Bible or romantic poetry knows that flowers are
often used as symbols. What may not have occurred to you is that the
person you receive flowers from or give flowers to may read a message

into the selections in the arrangement. If you are like me, you will never
again select flowers as gifts solely for their aesthetic qualities. The book's
strength is an outstanding choice of paintings used to illustrate the flowers
discussed as well as their symbolism. You will be pleased to find the
references for these paintings in the book so you can explore the works
separately from the book. Ms. Heilmeyer is both a botanist and an art
historian in Berlin, which makes her eminently qualified to explore this
subject. Her review of the history of flower symbolism begins in ancient
Egypt and moves forward in time through Greece, Rome, and Christian
sources across Western Europe. Her key point is that "Throughout the
ages flowers have played an important role in expressing feelings, or when
joyful or sad news had to be delivered." The book is organized so that you
get one page of essay facing one page of art illustration. The essay page
will often have some small botanical illustrations on it. In total, you will find
156 color illustrations, almost all of which are wonderful! I was especially
impressed that Ms. Heilmeyer was able to find botanical photographs that
so aptly captured the symbolic elements of the flowers. On the top right of
the page with the essay, the symbolic meanings are summarized to make
it easier to use the book as a reference when assembling a message
through an arrangement. I was struck that many flowers symbolize
different things totally in the religious versus the lay context. The potential
for mixed messages is strong in those cases. Here are a few flowers and
some of their symbolic meanings to give you a flavor of what you will learn
in the book:Columbine (Aquilegia) -- wisdom and strength, piety and fear; a
symbol of salvation, the triumph of life over death; an aphrodisiac;Thistle --
Scotland's national emblem; a symbol of hard work, suffering and Christ's
deliverance; dispels melancholy;Strawberry -- First fruit of the year; a
symbol of purity and sensuality, fertility and abandance, humility and
modesty;Camellia -- A symbol of the transience of life;Crocus -- Symbol of
the Resurrection and heavenly bliss;Stock -- Symbol of happy life and
contented existence;Lily -- Purity;Lily of the Valley -- A symbol of the Virgin
Mary;Daisy -- The love flower;Daffodil -- The promise of eternal
life;Carnation -- Bravery, love, and friendship; symbol of Mother's
Day;Peony -- An arden love of God;Rose -- Love and joy; andPansy --
Sign of the Holy Trinity; symbolizes loyalty.The obvious application of this
book is to make up bouquets that are meaningfully beautiful. I hope you
will use it that way to bring you closer to those you love.After you have
finished enjoying this book and making many wonderful arrangements that
you would not have considered before, I suggest that you also think about
other natural items that have symbolic meanings and employ them as well
to expand your visual use of language.
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