The Language of Flowers 1550-1680

Based on five long-forgotten volumes published between 1558 and 1671, Rachel Henry's book offers some fascinating new insights into the origins of the Language of Flowers - and how it was used. Long before the Victorian heyday of the floral dictionary, flowers were being used to send loving, critical and even raunchy messages, and the ribbons or threads used to tie the bouquets were adding further nuances to their meanings. A total of 389 plants and flowers listed in the five books, together with their meanings, are translated from the original French, with notes on the plants themselves and their history.

This is the first book in a series about the Language of Flowers.