Attributing meaning to flowers, known as floriography, has been around for centuries. It’s been used by Jane Austen, Shakespeare, as well as in the bible.

The phrase "the language of flowers" is first attributed to Christopher Smart's poem, Jubilate Agno (1763)

"For the flowers have their angels... For there is a language of flowers. For there is a sound reasoning upon all flowers. For elegant phrases are nothing but flowers."

Although practiced previously, it really became popular by Charlotte de Latour's Le Langage des Fleurs (France 1819). The Victorian era really took off with it after that with floral dictionaries encouraging readers to speak in the language of flowers and sparking the trend of flowers as fashion statements. There is no “definitive source” so you can research and choose the meaning that appeals to you the most. Here is just one resource. —-

For this series we will send our partner a themed envelope and enclosing an artwork of the designated flower. Each swap there will be a single themed flower that we will all use.

This swaps theme is: Foxglove

*1 - Send your partner a beautifully decorated (Foxglove themed) envelope.

*2 - Enclose some artwork depicting your themed flower and it’s meaning (such as a watercolor, pen & ink drawing, hand-scribed poem, collage, postcard, ATC, etc.) Here is an wet in wet watercolor tutorial using ink! Please do anything you’re inspired to!!

*3 - be sure to include a note to your partner (in character preferably) mentioning the themed flower, its meaning, etc. —- Each swap we will be working on a different flower. I will list the first few below so you can keep your eyes open for future things to include or use in your artwork. Please let me know (comment below or via message) if there is a flower you’d like to see in future swaps!

Current: Foxglove

Upcoming: rose, iris

As always, if you have questions or comments please let us know! Anna, Jane & Nickalli