188 Principles of Floral Design Meanings of Flowers Traditionally, specifi c meanings have been attached to various types of fl owers. In fact, in Victorian times, fl owers were often used to express coded meanings. For example, acacia meant friendship, but yellow acacia meant secret love. Baby’s breath and daisies symbolized innocence or purity, and jasmine stood for grace and elegance. Carnations could have many meanings, depending on their color. Pink carnations symbolized gratitude, but red carnations meant deep love or passion. Some people still enjoy using the traditional meanings of fl owers when they choose the fl owers for an arrangement. In Great Britain, brides often choose their wedding fl owers according to their meanings. For example, Princess Kate Middleton’s bouquet consisted of lily of the valley, hyacinth, myrtle, ivy, and Sweet William. To see what these and other fl owers mean, see Figure 8-22. For a more detailed table of suggested fl ower meanings, refer to the Appendix. Knowing the traditional meaning of various types of fl owers can help you inform customers who want their arrangements to represent a certain thought or sentiment. For example, if a young man comes in and wants to propose and present a bouquet to his girlfriend that expresses his feelings using the perceived meanings of fl owers, as a fl orist, you could make a bouquet conveying his thoughts. He could explain what each of the fl owers means as part of his proposal. Did You Know? In Great Britain, it is a royal tradition for brides to carry a sprig of myrtle in their wedding bouquets. The myrtle for royal weddings is harvested from Queen Victoria’s 170-year-old garden. Removing Lily Pollen Follow these tips to avoid staining the fl ower petals, your fi ngers, or the working surface when you remove the anthers from lilies: • Remove anthers as soon as the lilies begin to open. • Do not spread lily pollen to the stigma. This hastens fertilization and ethylene synthesis, thus speeding senescence. • If lily pollen attaches to your clothing, do not brush it away with your fingers. Natural oils in your skin will help set it deeper, making it more difficult to remove. Use a soft brush or chenille stem to lift lily pollen from your clothes. If possible, leave the stained material in strong sunlight for a few days. After a few days, the pollen will dry and you can brush it away. • If pollen accidentally falls on a flower petal, use a pipe cleaner to gently dust off the pollen. An antitranspirant spray may also be used to gently wash it away. Anthers step-by-step Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.