Running Away With You (Running #3) (66 page)

Red Rose
–
Red is universally considered the most
passionate
color, so it's no wonder that a red rose symbolizes intense emotions of the heart. The number of flowers you give in a bouquet is also heavy with symbolism. A solitary rose is the calling card of a long-standing admirer, whereas a husband in the doghouse may send an abundant arrangement of two dozen flowers to get back into his wife's good graces.

Dahlias
–
Symbolizing
hope
for an everlasting union between two people, dahlia flowers are presented to couples at engagement parties and weddings. These flowers, which bloom in white and a variety of showy hues, including pink, crimson, orange and yellow, are given as an anniversary gift in celebration of 14 years of marriage, although the origin of this tradition is unknown.

Heather
–
It can represent
admiration
,
beauty
and
good luck
, and it can also be associated with solitude and protection. More specifically, the color of the heather flower influences its meaning. Traditional purple heather is used to represent admiration, beauty and solitude, while pink heather is associated with good luck. If white heather is chosen, it means protection from danger.

Forget-Me-Not
–
Long a flower of historical legend, forget-me-nots are as persistent and hardy as the stories they inspire. They have long been considered a representation of
true love
and
memories
.

White Daisy
–
Daisies hold different meanings and can represent both truth and lies simultaneously.  The daisy flower is associated with
purity
,
patience
,
innocence
,
loyal love
,
beauty
, and
simplicity
.

Purple Iris
–
The iris symbolizes
hope
, and is the emblem of both France and Florence, Italy. The name of the flower, Iris, derives from the Greek word for rainbow, given because of the different color varieties available. The leaf shapes were an example of the sorrows that "pierced her heart."

Purple Orchid
–
The purple orchid, tropical and delicate, has lush, velvety petals and strikingly rich color that makes it especially captivating. Orchids represent
beauty
and
love
. Purple orchids, especially, symbolize love. The orchid’s star-shaped allure is deepened by its color, traditionally associated with royalty and refinement in many cultures.

Violet
–
The violet flower is a pledge of
faithfulness.
  In his sonnets, Shakespeare used the violet as a symbol of humility and constancy in love.  A dream of violet flowers was said to foretell an advancement in life.

Gardenia
–
The added beauty of these flowers is that they convey intense emotional meanings, which if given as a gift, helps express a person's feelings to someone. The gardenia, therefore, signifies
joy
,
purity
,
secret love
and is associated with thoughts of beauty.

Sunflower
–
Their distinctive and brilliant appearance makes it easy to see why sunflowers have long held our fascination, mostly for their unique combination of striking beauty.  The sunflower turns to follow the sun. Their open faces symbolize the sun itself, conveying warmth and
happiness
,
adoration
and
longevity
.

Amaryllis
–
Amaryllis plants are associated with
eternal and determined love
that overcomes all obstacles.  Red amaryllis plants symbolize "splendid beauty."  In Victorian times, these blooms were common gifts from a lover to the woman he admired. The plant's splash of scarlet is welcome in the dark, deep winter months, making superb ornamental centerpieces for festive tables.

Gladiolus
–
The gladioli gets its name from a Latin word gladius, which means sword. These flowers can also be called the sword lily because of the way that they look. The gladioli is the official flower of the Gladiators. The gladioli carry several symbolic meanings, including strength of character, sincerity, and integrity.

Banyon Tree
–
Known in Hindu mythology as 'the
wish-fulfilling
tree', banyans represent
eternal life
because of its seemingly ever-expanding branches.