As I look out my southeastern facing office window onto the Peace Garden, I am seeing different colors than I did a few months ago. The hostas are dying down, the hydrangea blooms are fading to brown, and the leaves on the red bud tree are yellow and dropping. However, there are also bright red baffin roses still blooming around the pond and in the border areas.

 Flowers have always been a popular feature in homes, and there are many articles from the past describing the floral arrangements that the Hormels used to adorn their rooms. During one of several stockholders dinners of the early 1900s a profuse amount of Chrysanthemums were used to make the setting lovely.  At an afternoon soiree in 1906 white roses, white hydrangeas, phlox, and asters were spread throughout the home to add color, fragrance, and a delicate touch to the setting.  When the marriage of Jay and Germaine Hormel was celebrated in 1922, the decorations consisted of white daisies, ferns, larkspur and black-eyed susans.

Lillian Hormel was said to have made the comment while visiting a flower show in Austin that she would like to see all the flower-loving women of Austin as members of the Floral Society who would help with the show. Because of her love of flowers, I wonder if she participated in the use of “Floriography.”

Floriography is the language that defined meanings attributed to various flowers and was popularly used during the 1800s. According to Wikipedia, “Interest in floriography soared in Victorian England and in the United States during the 19th century. Gifts of blooms, plants, and specific floral arrangements were used to send a coded message to the recipient, allowing the sender to express feelings which could not be spoken aloud in Victorian society. Armed with floral dictionaries, Victorians often exchanged small “talking bouquets,” called nosegays ortussie-mussies, which could be worn or carried as a fashion accessory.”

As part of our History for Half Pints program, we have created an attraction for young people explaining the art of communicating though flowers. Children (and adults) are encouraged to create an arrangement that conveys a message then photograph their creation to share with others.

Following is a sample of the meaning of a few flowers found in the HHH Peace Garden:

Hydrangea: Thank you for understanding

Lillies: Majesty & Honor, Purity of Heart

Iris: Faith, wisdom, hope

Roses (Dark Pink): Thankfulness

Coreopsis: Always cheerful

The message I would send to you from our garden is “With a pure heart, I will always be cheerful and thankful for you and hope you will visit often.”

Hearth & Home Series

10 a.m., Oct. 18

History of Spam presented by Spambassadors and flavored with Spamples. Free.

Best Bartender Contest Fundraiser

Doors open at 5 p.m., Contest at 6 p.m.,

Wednesday, Oct. 26

Choose your favorite bartender after they compete in 8 challenges. Food available for purchase by the B&J. Live Music by JT Thompson. $5 at the door.