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This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA (Thanks to Joe Haupt) |
It’s Valentine’s Day today, so here’s wishing all you lovers out there a wonderful day, even if you haven’t yet found the love of your life. The world needs all the loving people it can get.
I just read a bit about how during the C19th when Germany wanted to encourage orcharding, it decreed that all newlyweds must plant a fruit tree. I think that’s a lovely idea which wouldn't go amiss today.
I have just planted a lemon tree. A lemon might not sound all that romantic but it does symbolise cleanliness, purity and even fertility. Just think of it as aspirational. In the meantime, it has a lovely scent and if it produces any lemons, that will be a bonus as they are extremely expensive here at the moment. There is a lovely song about Love and Lemon Trees, though it isn't all that happy.
I have been looking at the Language of Flowers to see what it had to say about how to express one’s loving feelings. Here are a few suggestions stolen directly from Copilot (Bing AI).
Roses: Often the quintessential symbol of love, especially red roses, which represent deep passion and romance. Pink roses signify admiration and sweetness, while white roses stand for purity and true love.
Tulips: Particularly red tulips, which symbolize perfect love. They are elegant and convey a sense of grace and beauty.
Lilies: White lilies, especially, are associated with purity and refined beauty. They also symbolize commitment and lasting love.
Carnations: Red carnations represent admiration and deep love, while pink carnations can signify gratitude and sweetness.
Orchids: These exotic flowers are symbols of luxury, beauty, and strength. They represent delicate and rare beauty, making them perfect for expressing admiration.
Daisies: Gerbera daisies, with their bright and cheerful appearance, symbolize innocence and loyal love. They convey a sense of joy and happiness.
Sunflowers: Representing adoration, loyalty, and longevity, sunflowers are a sunny and optimistic choice for expressing affection.
Peonies: These lush blooms are often associated with romance and prosperity. They are a popular choice for weddings and romantic occasions.
Lilacs: Especially purple lilacs, which symbolize the first emotions of love. They are perfect for expressing young or new love.
Gardenias: Symbolizing purity, sweetness, and secret love. They are often used to convey a message of deep and abiding affection.
Copilot also has a couple of other ideas
If you want to express affection for someone who is away fighting wars, then you could do as the old song suggests, “Tie a Yellow Ribbon around the Old Oak Tree” to let them know you are thinking of them. You could also write them a letter or send them a selfie.
Even better, we could offer a whole bunch of olive branches to bring about peace and bring all those soldiers home for good. I think we had better start planting a lot more olive trees.
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