November's flowers

The Chrysanthemum represents the month of November. This birth flower symbolizes cheerfulness although a red one sends the “I love you” message. Giving someone a white ‘mum means innocence, purity and pure love. Yellow chrysanthemums mean a slighted or jilted love. I don’t make this up. These meanings are part of the Language of Flowers, a throwback to the Victorian era, when we didn’t say what we meant; we gave symbolic flowers instead. The Ox-eye Daisy with its white petals and golden centres seen on our roadsides is related, although not native to the province.

 November is also associated with the Poppy Campaign of the Royal Canadian Legion, a tradition in place since 1921. These familiar red and black flowers bloom on the lapels of Canadians as we remember those who gave of their service and their lives in military service. This association is international and dates back to Napoleonic times, when they commemorated the fallen.

Lt. Col. John McCrae immortalized the poppies in his emotional poem In Flanders’ Fields, first published in 1915.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place;
and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead.
Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

I can still recite this from memory. Today and tomorrow many school children will assemble to pay their respects to events they study in history. November 11 at 11:11 won’t you give a moment of silence for those who gave?

Ox-eye Daisies, photo by Martin Thomas
Graphic by Stressed Jenny

Easter Flowers

As an important Christian festival, Easter has often been associated with floral gifts and bouquets. The white Easter Lily has represented love and hope. Its single flower atop the stem indicates Christ’s Resurrection after His crucifixion. Legend holds that where drops of His blood fell, grew a Lily. In Catholic nations, some attribute the love and purity to His Mother, the Virgin Mary and fill their churches with Lilies at Easter-time.

Contemporary arrangements now include some or all of the following, depending on the meaning you wish to convey at Easter.

The sweetly fragranced Daisy, with its purity and placidness, suit the Easter occasion. Including the elegant Azaleas in a bouquet may whisper that you hope the recipient will take good care of themselves for your sake.

Daffodils signify love and respect and by giving a bouquet of them at Easter, you are declaring that the recipient is your one true love. 

Chrysanthemum in an Easter gift indicates your respect for them and its inclusion is a sign of cheerfulness, except for yellow. The popular spring bulb, the Tulip, is a messenger of belief and love. Red Tulips are for I Love You messages. Mixed tulip bouquets make a statement on how beautiful are your eyes! Yellow tulips mean that you are Hopelessly in Love with the recipient and not necessarily an Easter message.

Although Hyacinth is also included for its sweet fragrance, each colour represents something different and not necessarily associated with the Christian festival. 

Please mindful of Easter flowers that may be harmful to your pets. If you have cats, Easter lilies must be kept out of their reach.

Purple Daisies, photo by Marian Munro

White Daisies, photo by Marian Munro

Azaleas, photo by Marian Munro

Easter lilies on postcard from the collection of Marian Munro