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Love Songs from the Garden - Say it With Flowers

© Carol Wallace

The floral industry is always telling us to "Say it with Flowers." And if we believe them, then when we want to say "I love you" we should shell out for a usually very expensive bouquet of long stemmed red roses. But did you realize that there are dozens of other ways to get your message across? And many will say what is in your heart with a great deal more accuracy than that clichéd bouquet.

The trouble with clichés is that they don't seem to provoke much thought. Like you didn't try too hard when sending your message, and the recipient can often be left with the impression that your lack of effort (and imagination) means the message is only half felt.

So this year, why not say what you really mean? If you don't want to declare deathless passion, even if you want to break up with someone, you can still say it with flowers. Include a little book about the language of flowers so no one will misunderstand and you'll have a gift that really says you thought hard about the person you're saying things to with those flowers.

Language of Roses: Beyond "I Love You Truly"

Red roses are the symbol of "I love you." But what if you're not sure. What if you're shy? Or what if you love someone and aren't sure they love you back?

If you want to communicate to a brand new love, you'd do best to send a thornless rose of any kind (and yes, it counts if you strip them off yourself. If you prick yourself, you can think of it as being wounded for the cause.) Thornless roses symbolize early attachment, or love at first sight.

Shy people should send a Damask rose, an heirloom type that blooms only once but with a wonderful fragrance, and which signifies bashful love. The moss rose (another heirloom type) is a confession of love. Perfect for those who are a bit afraid to speak up. A Bridal rose means happy love, and a pink one means perfect happiness.

Is the bloom wearing off your particular rose? A tea rose, which says "I'll always remember you", may be a hint that you are planning to leave. A yellow rose tells someone that there has been a decrease of love. But if you're still waffling, try sending a single rose leaf ? no flower. That says, "You may hope."