Intricate
adjective
1. having many interrelated parts or facets; entangled or involved:
2. complex; complicated; hard to understand, work, or make:
Dictionary.com
Anyone who has stopped to take a photograph of a single, perfect flower, a cluster of buds or a fallen leaf will know how intricate are these small marvels of nature.
We humans are dependent on plants –for food, medicine, shelter and fuel –as well as less tangible things, like the calming scent of lavender, or the sheer joy of being given a bouquet of roses.
Over time, the properties of plants have come to be ascribed deeper meanings and significance. ‘Floriography’ — the language of flowers — may be less well-known today than in its Victorian heyday, but we still associate roses with romance and lilies with funerals. White violets apparently mean “let’s take a chance on happiness.”
In Victorian times, floriography was widespread; with dictionaries available to help people navigate this intricate language and send the “right” messages through their choice of foliage.
On occasions where I’ve chosen flowers for bouquets and arrangements, I’ve tended to do so on a purely aesthetic basis. I wonder now, what anyone familiar with floriography might have made of my choices? Perhaps:
“Respect! You’re a wonderful friend. I’m sincere” and “Could you pick up some bread on the way home?”
This post was written for the Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge: intricate.
Lovely choice, Su. I think the “unknowns” are Queen Anne’s Lace, but I could be wrong. No matter, they’re beautiful.
janet
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Janet 🙂
LikeLike
Perfect images for this challenge. They are beautiful.
LikeLike
Thank you 🙂
LikeLike
Oh, that rose on the bottom. I can almost smell it. I’m with sustainabilitea, the unknowns are daucus carota – Queen Anne’s Lace.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you; and thanks for your identification of the flower. I am really bad at that sort of thing. I’m the sort of person who could go a nature walk where all the trees are signposted and all I’d remember afterwards was what I was wearing and what I talked to my friends about on the walk!
LikeLike
such a beautiful surprise i just planted some of these in my winter garden the faces of butterfly angels..
LikeLiked by 1 person
They are gorgeous, aren’t they. 🙂
LikeLike
so perfect and happy they are lol
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s nice photo album~love this.
Happy day for you ^^
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Really lovely and delicate photos Su – you’ve captured intricate perfectly!
LikeLike
Thanks so much Debbie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely choice of photos. I do love the idea of the language of flowers. It was the same with jewels.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Raewyn; yes it’s interesting how the Victorians managed to codify and formalise so much of life. I guess a lot of people had too much time on their hands while a lot of other people were working their butts off keeping the first lot in flowers and jewels 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
So true. They also didn’t have the same attitude towards death that we do today. Yet they were very sentimental in other areas
LikeLiked by 1 person
So true. I guess death was much more commonplace.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fantastic Macros, really sharp with intricate details.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Ben 🙂
LikeLike
I love this Language of Flowers post. The photos are stunning.
LikeLike
Thanks so much Karen 🙂
LikeLike
So great !!!! Congrats your blog is amazing beautiful !!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person