Discover the uses and symbolic meanings of flowers over the centuries and across the globe.
Flowers have been depicted as objects of beauty and wonder in countless paintings and poems
exchanged as tokens of love and affection and displayed as symbols of both celebration and
remembrance - saying it with flowers is truly part of the human experience. But how does the
significance of flowers vary across cultures and at different points in history? And what makes
certain flowers special? The Secret Language of Flowers explores the meaning of more than 85
flowers tracing their history as symbols and charting their role in folklore and mythology
around the world. This fascinating book on flowers can help you to: -Unlock the meaning of
flowers throughout history - from early peoples to the 19th-century. - Discover the Victorian
language of flowers popular in the US UK and Europe. - Gain an insight into folklore and
mythology in relation to different flowers. - Uncover what flowers mean in various cultures
around the world. -Uncover traditional medicinal uses of plants such as aloe which is used to
treat burns. Uncover the rich and fascinating histories of individual flowers - the sunflower
for example which was regarded by the Aztecs as a symbol of war but became a symbol of
devotion in 19th-century painting due to the fact that it turns its head to follow the sun.
Learn about the function of flowers in society from the practical to the playful - flowers
have been used as remedies and tonics - tea tree and coneflower (or echinacea) for example -
as well as as a means of sending cryptic messages to lovers and friends. The Secret Language of
Flowers is an entertaining guide to the rich stories that lie beyond the seductive aromas and
dazzling beauty of flowers of all kinds. Each flower featured throughout the book is arranged
by season from the first snowdrops and primroses of spring the glorious roses of summer the
stunning fuchsias and dahlias of autumn to the holly and poinsettia of the winter months
there's a flower for everyone to fall in love with. At DK we believe in the power of
discovery. So why stop there? If you like The Secret Language of Flowers then why not try
Great Loves which celebrates some of the most famous romances in history or Lost Masterpieces
to discover extraordinary stories behind the world's missing works of art.
