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Weren’t flowers supposed to be a symbol of kindness?
In the week leading up to All Saints’ Day, their beauty clearly isn’t enough to soften the hearts of florists and flower shop owners.
I happened to find the shop I’ve been going to for some time closed, and I was reluctantly let in at another one.
On the closed window of the first florist’s shop a sign that read, “Closed Monday and Tuesday afternoons — reservations for funeral services accepted by October 24.”
The door of the second florist, on the other hand, was open, but “we’re too busy, we can’t handle it anymore; you’re the last one, no one else is coming in. Look at how many arrangements we have to prepare; those flowers are already sold…”
The crescendo of complaints continued until it reached a climax: I was grabbed by the arm “Ma’am, come on, I’m not exhausted, look, look…”
I remained silent.
I couldn’t even manage to say “keep calm,” I was so dismayed; I just wanted to buy some flowers.
I often say that I feel like an alien in this world, but what happened to us?
I fondly remember the florist in the town where I was born and the times I used to go to her shop with my mom. She was always smiling, always full of suggestions, always with one more idea.
And yet she ran the shop all by herself, and she, too, had a young child just like I was.
All of this got me thinking about the language of flowers.
The coffee flower symbolizes vitality, energy, and even strength, precisely because coffee plants grow even in challenging environments far from their natural habitat.
It’s impossible not to think of Karen Blixen and her Out of Africa.
But let’s get back to the language of flowers Hanakotoba 花言葉 in Japanese. What’s your favorite flower?
In the meantime, check out this unmissable “floral” Halloween display, if we can call it that, at the University of Pavia’s botanical garden!
Hi I'm Claudia and this is KCDC.
