Language of Flowers

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Most cultures throughout history have attributed various meanings to flowers and colors. On Devali, where plants are a way of life, flowers can be used as their own language and often express what words cannot. Certain flower species carry meaning, such as love or jealousy. The color of the pedals and state of the flower's growth add additional nuance, such as the type of love or fierceness of jealousy. Even an individual flower on its own can have very specific meaning, but combining it with other flowers adds nuanced and complexity. A garden or bouquet can convey complicated relationships, emotions, and other messages better than words. Because of the potential complexity, the language of flowers has become an entire area of study. For large pieces of work, gardeners will often hire scholars on the topic to assist. Florists employ several people to work with customers to find the right flower or bouquet for their needs. Some even employ telepaths to avoid dancing around customers' embarrassment and help ensure the correct message is shared.

Trading Flowers

Certain events necessitate the giving or trading of flowers. A common wedding gift is a bouquet that represents the pair being joined. At funerals, guests offer ones to express something about the person who has passed on. Birthday and graduation bouquets often say something about the individual and goals and dreams for the future. At times, it can even be used to end a relationship, depending on the flowers involved. At formal events where one brings a guest, it's tradition for each person to give a flower to the other. The flower will then be worn throughout the night and represent the nature of the relationship that others at the party should be aware of. Everyone knows the basics of what these flowers mean, so they don't accidentally flirt with someone's wife or refer to someone's sibling as their spouse. Many use these flowers to express hidden feelings for the other person. A splash of pink on the underside can confess feelings in secret, or giving a flower past its prime can share concerns that the relationship is dying without sharing a single word. Even if the flower is something negative, it's considered better to wear it than to discard it and wear nothing. Getting a flower for oneself is even worse.