Lovers have long used the beauty of flowers and herbs to express true feelings from their hearts. the individual meaning of each herbs, spice, and flower began in the Orient and was introduced to the West in 1716 by Lady Montague while her husband served as the English ambassador to the Turkish government in Constantinople. The language of herbs and flowers soon spread to France and reached its height of popularity in the nineteenth century. Flowers and herbs added spontaneity to romance and made flirting great fun. Some believe each herb and plant still has a silent message for each of us. As we learn to harmonize with Mother Nature, we will gain more understanding of the nonverbal communication that speaks from our hearts.

The following in-between posts are adapted from The Language of Flowers (Dover, 1965) and The Folklore of Plants (Dyer, 1889).