Flowers of the Frontier

Victorian floriography:

Pansy

Viola tricolor var. hortensis

Meaning:

You occupy my thoughts

The Victorian Obsession with Floral Symbolism

In Victorian England, flowers served as a nuanced language, allowing individuals to express sentiments that societal norms often suppressed. This practice, known as floriography, assigned specific meanings to various blooms, enabling covert communication through floral arrangements. This obsession with the language of flowers was fueled by a blend of Romanticism, an increased interest in botany, and Queen Victoria’s love of floral arrangements.

Flower dictionaries became widely popular, detailing the meanings attributed to each flower. For example, a red rose symbolized passionate love, while presenting it upside down conveyed the opposite sentiment. During courtship, small bouquets called nosegays or tussie-mussies were exchanged, each carefully crafted to convey particular messages. A gift of violets promised faithfulness, whereas yellow carnations indicated disdain.

Beyond personal exchanges, floral symbolism permeated Victorian fashion and décor. Embroidered handkerchiefs, gloves, and dresses featured specific flowers, allowing individuals to wear their emotions subtly. Fans adorned with floral motifs added layers of meaning to social interactions. In gardens and conservatories, meticulously arranged flower beds allowed for the expression of sentiments through horticultural design.

But as women left their English gardens behind and ventured into the American West, did they bring their floral traditions with them? How did the language of flowers adapt to the rugged frontier, where survival often took precedence over sentimentality?

Bringing the Language of Flowers to the Frontier

The fascination with floriography was not just limited to England. It quickly spread to the United States, where Victorian women in the more established cities of the East also adopted the practice of communicating through flowers. However, as settlers and adventurous young women moved westward, such as to the fictional town of Thistle Creek, Colorado—some for love, some for independence, and others simply to escape the constraints of high society—the presence of flowers and their meanings began to shift.

Many Victorian women brought pressed flowers in books, embroidered floral designs on their linens, and even planted gardens as a way to maintain a sense of civilization in the untamed land. The challenge, of course, was that the pruned rose gardens, sprawling lavender fields, and delicate hot-house orchids of England and the East Coast were difficult—if not impossible—to cultivate in the dry, often unforgiving climate of the frontier. Instead, women learned to adapt, bringing their love of flowers with them, but shifting their focus to the wildflowers and native plants of their new home.

Practical Uses and Symbolic Meanings

Though cowboys and frontiersmen were not known for their poetic gestures, flowers still played a role in Western romance. In small towns, a man might bring a lady wild roses as a sign of admiration, or pick prairie flowers to give to his sweetheart. Women often sent pressed flowers in letters to loved ones back East, using them as symbols of longing and remembrance.

Florists were scarce in frontier towns, so when weddings took place, brides often carried bouquets of whatever blooms could be found—lilacs in the spring, daisies in the summer, or asters in the autumn. Some brides even carried herbs, such as sage and rosemary, for good luck and protection.

In some cases, flowers carried more practical meanings. Lavender, known for its calming properties, was planted near homesteads to repel insects and offer a comforting scent reminiscent of home. Wild violets and pansies, aside from their beauty, were used in medicinal remedies for skin conditions and respiratory ailments.

The wild columbine, Colorado’s state flower, was often seen as a symbol of fortitude and courage. Sunflowers, towering in golden splendor, came to represent loyalty and endurance—qualities necessary for survival in the harsh western climate.

The dandelion (Taraxacum), known for its hardiness and ability to thrive in challenging conditions, came to represent resilience and perseverance—traits essential for survival in the West. Beyond symbolism, dandelions were valued for their nutritional and medicinal properties, offering settlers a source of food and remedies in an often unforgiving environment.

The Pansy: A Flower of Thought and Devotion

Among the many flowers cherished in both England and the West, the pansy remained a favorite. Its very name, derived from the French word pensée (meaning "thought"), made it a symbol of remembrance and affectionate reflection. A woman might keep a dried pansy in a locket as a token from a loved one or press them into a letter to a sweetheart far away.

The pansy, with its delicate petals and rich hues, has long been cherished for its beauty and profound symbolism. During the Victorian and Edwardian eras, this modest flower held significant meaning, woven into the fabric of society, literature, and traditional medicine.

Medicinal and Practical Uses

Historically, pansies have been utilized in traditional medicine. Extracts from wild pansies were employed to treat various ailments, including respiratory issues and skin conditions. The plant contains compounds with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, making it valuable in herbal remedies. In some traditions, pansies were also used in love potions, believed to inspire affection and harmony.

Historical Context and Cultural Significance

The pansy's association with thoughtfulness is not confined to the Victorian period. In Shakespeare's "Hamlet," Ophelia remarks, "There's pansies, that's for thoughts," underscoring the flower's emblematic connection to reflection and memory. This literary reference, among others, reinforced the pansy's symbolic meaning in the cultural consciousness of the time.

Beyond literature, the pansy was esteemed for its delicate beauty and variety of colors, which made it a favorite in Victorian gardens and floral arrangements. Its tri-colored petals, often displaying rich purples, yellows, and blues, were not only visually appealing but also laden with symbolic meanings.

Color Variations and Their Meanings

In floriography, the color of a flower could impart additional layers of meaning. Pansies, with their diverse palette, were particularly versatile in this regard:

●      Purple Pansies: Symbolized nobility, dignity, and deep admiration. They were often used to convey respect and high esteem.

●      Yellow Pansies: Represented joy, happiness, and positive thoughts. Gifting a yellow pansy could brighten someone's day and convey well-wishes.

●      Blue Pansies: Emblematic of loyalty and trust. They were suitable for expressing deep, faithful sentiments.

●      White Pansies: Denoted purity and innocence, often used to convey gentle, sincere intentions.

The combination of these colors in bouquets allowed Victorians to craft intricate messages, with each hue adding depth to the conveyed sentiment.

Conclusion: Flowers as a Timeless Language

Even in the Wild West, where survival often overshadowed sentiment, flowers continued to carry meaning. Whether found in a carefully tended garden, a spontaneous bouquet, or a single bloom tucked into a letter, they remained a symbol of love, remembrance, and resilience. The pansy, in particular, transcended its role as a mere botanical specimen to become a profound symbol of thought, remembrance, and unspoken emotions. The language of flowers did not fade in the face of frontier hardships—it simply adapted, proving that beauty and emotion can bloom anywhere, even in the dust of the trail.