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Flowers are powerful symbols.

They've been associated with wars (if even indirectly), frenzied consumerism (although most of Tulip Mania lore is false) and mysterious killings (e.g. The Black Dahlia). Flower symbols grace the pages of myriad sacred texts, stand-ins for personality traits and virtues. Some flowers were thought to be gods,  turned into blooms by angry fellow deities (e.g. Narcissus, Anemone, Myrtle)--or via deep (or unrequited) love (e.g. Poppy, Crocus, Heliotrope).

Edible flowers

You may have guessed, but I like my food and finding that some of the flowers we grow in our garden for decorative purpose are actually edible is a total bonus.   Please do make sure you identify the flower correctly before scoffing it, we don’t want any accidents or worse.

Victorian Flower Language

Although flowers have had ‘meanings’ for centuries, it was the Victorians that really jumped on the band wagon with this idea, a particular flower or the scent of one on a handkerchief could send a very important message to a suitor.   It was a whole ‘secret’ language devised to send messages or convey meanings in the form of flowers.  The list is huge and varied but the following will give you some idea.

I was speaking with Laura Red Witch yesterday and she was telling me how magical it is to live in Glastonbury, England and walk amongst such sacred goddess sites and Arthurian legends. She also mentioned that area is a haven for fairies and having the energy of the wee folk around has been a beautiful blessings. Now that spring is here, we can all invite these delightful sprites in with fairy flora.

When planting your garden of enchantments, bear in mind that certain plants attract hummingbird, butterflies and fairies. The wee folk love daisies, purple coneflower, French lavender, rosemary, thyme, yarrow, lilac, cosmos, red valerian, sunflowers, honeysuckle and heliotrope. Folk wisdom handed down through the centuries claims that pansies, blue columbine, snapdragons planted in bed are a welcome mat for fairies and they can use foxglove, which means “folk’s glove,” to make hats and clothing as well as tulips for their haberdashery. They also favor sunny-faced nasturtiums. Fairies are also quite attached to certain fruit trees with pear, cherry and apple as their absolute favorites.  The hawthorn is one of the most magical trees. It marks the fairies’ favorite dancing places, and you should not cut or uproot a hawthorn unless you wish to incur their wrath. Keep your eyes peeled when these trees are in bloom as there are bound to be fairy folk about!

I didn’t just stop
to smell the lilacs
I sang to them too
praising their beauty
as I pressed my nose
into their blooms.

The air was full
of enchantment
as I delighted in the sunlight
filtered through new maple leaves
and scattered across stone.

I rolled redbud flowers
across my tongue
and ate dandelions straight
from the stem
feeling yellow petals
in my teeth.

I savored the flavor of a violet
and rubbed mint leaves
between my fingers
I crawled on my knees
through the clover
watched bees dance
on the dandelions
and found ginger
and elderberry beneath
my heels as I stretched
my arms into a tree branch
reaching for tender buds.

I gathered the blossoms
of springtime
kissed them with gratitude
and offered them into
the bubbles of water
from which rivers are born.

I let my fingers trail
through the wildness
within me and around me.
Then I lifted my lips
to my lover
under the
Beltane moon.