| When you pick a flower, you are touching us with the | | | | reportedly wore nothing but rose-colored clothes and |
| past, so to speak, and repeating a timeless gesture. | | | | had his carpets sprinkled with rose water. |
| What man, since Adam, has not looked admiringly at | | | | The Indians were likewise flower children. Samarkand |
| these beauties, or held a bloom in his hand at one | | | | was known for its vast tulip fields while Lahore was |
| time? | | | | given entirely to rose planting. When lilacs bloomed, |
| Since the beginning, flowers have held places in man's | | | | flower rites were held during which time the streets |
| heart and his abode. Greeks and Romans outdid each | | | | were covered with narcissus and tulip flowers. They |
| other in the lavish use of flowers. Their banquet floors | | | | dedicated the month of June to the rose while July |
| were strewn, ankle-deep, with flowers and floral | | | | was devoted to the lotus, India's reigning flower. |
| scents filled the air because of a belief that their | | | | And because flowers were essential to the lives of |
| fragrance purified the atmosphere and minimized | | | | men, flowers stood as symbols of nations. The rose |
| intoxication. | | | | was the national emblem of England, Honduras and |
| Housewives in the olden days, like their modern | | | | Iran while some others are: Italy - Lily, Japan - |
| counterparts, saved on marketing money to buy a | | | | Chrysanthemum, Russia - Sunflower, Brazil - Cattleya, |
| nosegay or a bunch of roses for the house. The | | | | etc. |
| scented helleborne was preferred because it was | | | | Various messages were also conveyed by flowers. |
| used to break the spells of witches and magicians. | | | | The red carnation means "my heart aches for you," in |
| Even ruthless conquerors, mighty kings, and skeptic | | | | which case the recipient may either answer "I confess |
| philosophers had their gentle moments among their | | | | my love' by sending a moss rose bud, or foil the design |
| flowering plants. Of the ancient kings, the Aztec | | | | by sending a dried up white rose which is a way of |
| Montezumas were fervent flower lovers and | | | | saying "you leave me cold." |
| maintained a kingly garden of exotic plants. When | | | | Nowadays, amorous admirers signify "I love you" by |
| Montezuma, the younger, was conquered, his entire | | | | having the florists deliver three long stemmed red |
| kingdom was wrested from him. One historical account | | | | roses to the girl. |
| said "Poor Montezuma... The entire story of gardening | | | | Other symbolisms attached to flowers are: azalea for |
| does not afford a more pathetic picture than this great | | | | temperance, sunflower for false riches, wallflower.1or |
| emperor begging that before his life will be taken, he | | | | fidelity in adversity, scarlet poppy for fantastic |
| be allowed to see his flowers once again." | | | | extravagance, blue violet for modesty, etc. A rather |
| Persians favored the rose and the narcissus blossoms. | | | | peculiar connotation affixed to the Aztec marigold is |
| One Caliph named El-Mutavekkel so passionately | | | | that of "vulgar mind. |
| loved roses that on every blooming season, he | | | | |