The Language of Flowers N

Subject: The Language of Flowers N Sat Nov 15, 2008 2:25 am

Narcissus............................. Egotism

(In classical mythology there was a beautiful greek shepherd boy named Narcissus. He was loved by all the wood nymphs, but one in particular had lost her heart to him. This was Echo. She was unable to tell him of her love for she could only repeat his last words. He was qite unaware of her adoration, which he did not reciprocate, and did not even realise that he was the cause of her unhappiness. In time she became so pale and thin that she looked like nothing but a little gossamer spirit following him throught the trees, and at last she wandered off to the mountains where she pined away until she became nothing but a voice.

Meanwhile, Venus, the Goddess of love, heard of Echo's hopeless devotion and determined to punish the hard hearted boy. When Nareissus was hunting in the forest she arranged for Cupid to set a magic spell upon him. Coming to a clear pool he stopped to quench his thirst and there in the water he saw another face rise up to meet his own as he leant over. for the first time in his life, Narcissus fell in love. He plunged his arms into the water without success to catch the lovely spirit who dwelt there. He sang out to the beautiful creature but the only answer was the faint, sad echo from the distant mountains.

Poor Narcissus How could he know that all the time he was looking at his own reflection. He had fallen hoplessly in love with his own beautiful face mirrored in the pool Day after day he returned, his tears falling into the pool like rain, until finally he began to pine and fade just as Echo had done in her turn, with the sad hopelessness of unrequited love. Then the Immortals took pity on him, and turned him into a delicate white papery flower which grows forever by the pool, in memory of the egotistical youth.)

Nasturtium ...........................Patriotism

(the significance of the Nasturtium in the language of flowers is probably due to the fact that it came to England from the New World in the Sixteenth Century, at the same time as tobacco. It was then banished to the kitchen garden and grown for centuries as a salad. Its name, Nasturtium, which it shares with watercress, comes from the Latin phrase for 'twisted nose' and it refers to the peppery taste they have in common. Its botanical name comes from the Greek word meaning trophy because the flowers and leaves are shaped like helmets and shields perhaps another explanation for it's symbolism.)

Nettle, Burning ....................Slander

Nettle,Tree ...........................Concert

Night-blooming Cereus .........Transient beauty

Night Convolvulus ................Night

Nightshade............................ Truth