Hello there! This month, I’m talking about a book that is all about flowers (fitting for spring) and I’m sipping a tea that is brimming with the most calming of flora, chamomile.
What did I read?
The first and third Saturday of every month my library has a book sale. I usually lug in a tote bag full of books to donate and then proceed to fill my then-empty tote bag with more, new-to-me books. I can easily justify the purchases, as most books are anywhere from $.10 to $1.00.
Over the years, I have found some beloved books at the sale – and some books that inevitably return to the library as future donations. Sometimes I pass on the book to a friend who I think will really enjoy it. I zipped through my latest find, The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. It was engrossing – a heart tugging story about a girl who ages out of foster care and must make a life for herself with little to no supports, and even less belief in herself. As you would expect, she has a challenging past largely defined by hellish experiences that she must surmount and make peace with. Will she survive and thrive? (Not telling! You have to read the book to find out.)
I found the book to be a smidge predictable and I have some reservations around the portrayal of the child welfare system…but let me repeat this: I read it quickly. It sucked me in and I felt for the protagonist, Victoria. It was a good read. I know which of my bookworm friends I will give it to.
What really drew me in to the book was how it introduced the reader to the Victorian language of flowers. For centuries, different cultures used flowers to send discreet messages. In the Victorian era, coded bouquets were a thing. If you wanted to tell someone you were devoted to him/her, you would include heliotrope in the arrangement. If you didn’t trust someone, you might include lavender (mistrust).
This brings me to another book in my library, The Meaning of Flowers: Myth, Language & Lore by Ann Field and Gretchen Scoble. It’s a beautifully curated book that artistically details the meanings behind 62 different flowers. I found this book in a used book shop in Eagles Mere years ago. This book served as a primer to the language of flowers starting then.
After reading Diffenbaugh’s book, I hunted down its companion book, A Victorian Flower Dictionary by Mandy Kirkby. Look out dear ones – if I give you flowers, I am sending you a message. Just hope I don’t give you thistle.
What's in my mug?
I am sipping a chamomile-laden tea from The Tea Can Company based out of Eastern Pennsylvania. The tea has all the ingredients to make for a calming experience – it’s packed with chamomile flowers, lemongrass, spearmint, lavender, and a little bit of CBD oil. I’m drinking their mild strength hemp tea, partly because it was a loooooong day and also because look at how pretty it is!
Okay, about that CBD oil. It’s supposed to bring about a calming effect, but not the questionable side effects because there is no THC. I repeat, there is no THC.
The brewed tea is a golden, sunny yellow. Or the color of urine if you are dehydrated. You decide. Never mind the appearance though, this tea is earthy and herbal with a distinct chamomile flavor. I like chamomile so I did not add any sweetener, but it would be delicious with a spoonful of honey.
Now the moment you’ve been waiting for, does it work? This tea has all the classic ingredients of a calming/sleep-inducing tea: lavender, chamomile, lemongrass… The only thing missing is valerian root. I definitely feel relaxed. It could be a placebo effect; it could be the herbal ingredients; or it could be the CBD oil. Most likely, it is a blend of all three. Add to all that the fact that I found this tea at the Christmas Market in Bethlehem last December (warm memories!) and it is, in general, a relaxing sipper.
Looking back, I have a number of enduring memories that center around flowers. It’s worth noting that any meanings attached to the flowers in the memories are completely by chance.
Each spring, the childhood version of me picked fistfuls of violets (modest worth or faithfulness, depending on which book you consult) from the shaded patch of grass between the two church buildings after service let out. I tucked them into a waxy paper cup sloshing with tap water, and then presented them to my mother with such pride. I don’t know if she held on to those violets until they wilted or if she chucked them out when I wasn’t looking.
I remember peering over the flowerbeds at my Gram’s house. She babysat all of the cousins while our parents worked. Gram’s flowerbeds lured in honeybees and hummingbirds. Her flowerbeds were spectacular and alive with color – yellow-orange gladioli (natural grace/you pierce my heart, depending on the book) and purple-yellow pansies (think of me). Side note: Gram also called pansies “Johnny Jump-Ups.” Does anybody else say Johnny Jump-ups?
Lupines – one of my favorite flowers. They grow in plentiful bunches all over Maine, one of my favorite places. The number of times I have blissed out on a trail or along a rocky coastline in Maine… Also dear reader, lupines are part of the inspiration for this blog. They signify IMAGINATION. What better flower to grace this whole creative pursuit?
That’s it for now. See you out there looking for lupines!