Books We Love Insider Blog: Chef cooking up romance

Sunday, January 28, 2024

Valentine's Day and February Flowers By Connie Vines

With Valentine's Day at the forefront of everyone's mind in February, it may come as a surprise that the red rose is not February's birth month flower.

Those born in the second month of the year are linked to violet and primrose.

Whether they're your birth flowers or not, I find discovering the meaning, symbolism, and history behind flowers and scents fascinating.

Only a few flowers bloom in February. However, the woodland plants of February dot the landscape like purple slippers. Wild violets show off purple-blue petals and heart-shaped leaves in one of the year's coldest months. Primeroses, a small perennial plant, also boom in wintertime.

Violet Meanings and Symbolism

Violets symbolize modesty, faithfulness, everlasting love, innocence, and remembrance.

In the Victorian age, a gift of violets was a declaration always to be true.

Most violets are edible and have specific medicinal properties. Violets contain salicylic acid, which is a chief ingredient in aspirin.

Primrose Meanings and Symbolism

The ancient Celts were thought to believe large patches of primrose flowers were the gateway to the fairy realm.

Although the primrose is toxic to dogs, cats, and horses, it is edible for humans. The leaves and flowers can be eaten cooked or raw or used as an herb or garnish.

Shakespeare's writing included several references to the primrose.

For me, it's always about the scent/fragrance.

Violets: a sweet, powdery perfume with a slightly fruity, floral scent. Violet leaves have a fresh aquatic hint.

Primrose: a sweet but slightly tangy (like an orange lollipop) fragrance.

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By all means, gift your sweetheart a bouquet of roses and a box of chocolates for Valentine's Day. Select a perfume or bath oil with one of February's floral scents for a unique gift. Share the story about the fairy realm or recite a passage from Shakespeare; what could be more romantic?

I hope you enjoyed this month's post :).