Artistic Inspiration from Flowers
What is it about the flower that makes it so remarkable? Is it its simple yet exquisite beauty; the softness of its petals that belies strong life energy? Or, perhaps, its elegant proportions, alluring scent, and extraordinary evolution from seed to bud to bloom, which exists only for a brief moment in time, as something so precious must surely be fleeting.
Capturing the ephemeral and mysterious beauty of flowers has inspired artists, poets, writers, philosophers, and lyricists. Flowers have played an important role in human culture. Imbued with significant meaning and symbolism, the relationship between humans and flowers is deeply intertwined.
Songs About Flowers
Flowers are a big part of relationships and are closely connected to emotions of love, loss, heartbreak, passion, and beauty. It's no wonder so many songwriters have been inspired by flowers. Listen to some of favorite songs that feature flowers.
Famous Paintings of Flowers
Throughout the history of art, flowers have long been a beloved subject for painters. A flower's vibrant color, beautiful shape, and various textures have inspired many famous artists from antiquity to the modern era. Looking at the different styles and methods each artist brings in their effort to capture a flower's beautiful essence is striking and amazing. The paintings below remind us of the majestic beauty nature has graced us with and what a bleak world it would be without flowers.
(Public domain via WikiCommons)
Still Life with Flowers by Ambrosius Bosschaert (1617)
Ambrosius Bosschaert was a 17th century Dutch still-life artist who became well known for his beautiful and stunningly detailed paintings of flower bouquets. We can almost feel the smooth softness of the petals and prickliness of the thorns. Through his detailed depictions of flowers, Bosschaert gracefully captures the fragile and short-lived beauty of life.
(Public domain via WikiArt)
Still Life with Irises by Vincent Van Gogh (1890)
Van Gogh has many famous flower paintings, including the popular Sunflower series, but we love Still Life with Irises for its bold color and lively depiction. The bold, contrasting colors of blue and yellow fill the painting with a vibrant energy while the frantic brushstrokes give life and movement to these cut flowers. We see a number of iris stems that are strong, erect and full of life, while a few others droop over the edge of the vase. Van Gogh has brilliantly captured the vivacity and frenzied energy of flowers in their fight to avoid inevitable death.
(Public domain via WikiArt)
White Vase with Flowers by Odilon Redon (1916)
Symbolist painter Odilon Redon created this vibrant still life of flowers with gradients of pastels. Moving away from the early Dutch still lifes of depicting detailed tables and backgrounds, this beautiful vase of flowers floats in front of a deep orange background with a slightly darker color surrounding the bottom of the vase suggesting a table. The colors are bold and striking, and some flowers are depicted in detail while others are abstract. The flowers command our attention, and we could easily get lost in their beauty, detail, colors, and textures.
(Public domain via WikiArt)
Flower Garden by Gustav Klimt (1905)
In Flower Garden, Klimt depicts a landscape filled with a multitude of colorful flowers and captures their charm and natural beauty in a decorative, symbolic way rather than realistically. The loose composition is balanced by the harmony of colors that dance across the canvas. Though rooted in nature, the flowers in this painting border on the symbolic and abstract while also celebrating the beauty of the natural world.
(Public domain via WikiArt)
Water Lilies by Claude Monet (1916-1919)
Any list of paintings about flowers has to include Claude Monet, who is perhaps the most famous flower painter of all time. With a beautiful series of Impressionist paintings he did of his garden in Giverny, Monet is a master of capturing the colorful beauty and energy of nature. In the above Water Lilies painting, Monet's loose brushstrokes mix and blend colors and shapes, creating a harmonious continuity of one natural element into another. The sky, water, plants, and flowers all merge into one beautiful and dreamy landscape.
Books on Flowers
Flowers have fascinated people from the beginning of time, and with their symbolism and beauty, authors frequently use flowers in their writing to give depth to a character, add beauty to a scene, and set the tone. Other authors just like looking at flowers! You'll find a mix of both in the list below.
The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean
An intriguing tale of one man's obsession to find and clone the rare ghost orchid, Polyrrhiza lindenii. Susan Orlean takes the reader on a crazy ride through the swamps of Florida while meeting a number of orchid enthusiasts in this true story.
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
In this timeless classic, orphaned Mary is sent to live with her uncle in his dark and dreary mansion on the Yorkshire Moors. Seeking refuge outside the house, Mary discovers a locked secret garden. With the help of two companions, she finds a way in.
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
In this debut novel by Vanessa Diffenbaugh, the main character uses flowers to deal with her troubled past, and uses flowers and their meanings as her only connection to they world. Soon she realizes she can use her gift by helping others in the flowers she chooses for them.
Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury
The dandelion flower holds a special place in the heart of Douglas Spaulding. This bright and cheery bloom reminds him of a magical time in his life where the flower represents joy and innocence. Enjoy Ray Bradbury's endearing ode to boyhood and summer.
The Accidental Botanist: A Deconstructed Flower Book by Robbie Honey
Author Robbie Honey is a global adventurer who has spent the last 12 years seeking out some of the world's most exotic flowers. He has collected over 100 flowers and plants which he photographs, dissects, and organizes with artistic flair.
Floriography: An Illustrated Guide to the Victorian Language of Flowers by Jessica Roux
Floriography is the language of flowers used by Victorians as a means of secret communication. This full-color guide details the historical uses and symbolic meanings of a vast array of flowers and herbs.
The Language of Flowers: A Fully Illustrated Compendium of Meaning, Literature, and Lore for the Modern Romantic by Odessa Begay
This book on the language of flowers has gorgeous full-color illustrations with engaging text and ornate decorative elements. 50 of the world's most popular and storied flower are described in detail and offers insight into their meaning and significance in folklore, mythology, literature, and popular culture.
Poems About Flowers
Many poets have been inspired to reflect on, ponder, and write about flowers. Just like artists, poets are drawn to trying to capture the ethereal beauty of blooms. Using words instead of a brush, the poets use language lyrically to describe the often ineffable beauty of a flower.
Ah Sunflowerby William Blake
Ah Sun-flower! weary of time,
Who countest the steps of the Sun:
Seeking after that sweet golden clime
Where the travellers journey is done.
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Song of the Flower XXIIIby Khalil Gibran
I am a kind word uttered and repeated
By the voice of Nature;
I am a star fallen from the
Blue tent upon the green carpet.
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I Tend My Flowers for Theeby Emily Dickinson
I tend my flowers for thee
Bright Absentee!
My Fuchsia's Coral Seams
Rip while the Sower dreams
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To a Flowerby C.B. Langston
No art can rival thee, beautiful flower!
Sweet mother of fragrance! fair child of the hour!
Like morning thou wearest a garment of light
Resplendent with jewels all flashing and bright!
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To the Daisy IIby William Wordsworth
Bright Flower! whose home is everywhere,
Bold in maternal Nature's care,
And all the long year through the heir
Of joy and sorrow.
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To the Flowersby Martha Lavinia Hoffman
Bright little day stars
Scattered all over the earth,
Ye drape the house of mourning
And ye deck the hall of mirth.
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A Bed of Wild Violetsby Eliza Allen Starr
Dear wilding violets, of the self-same hue
As those I first in happy childhood knew,
How like those nestling beauties ye beseem
The vernal sunshine, and the vernal green;
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A Daffodil Dayby Teresa Hooley
All day long blew the daffodils,
Oh, what a sight to see,
A myriad gold-gowned daffodils,
Moved to a rhythmic glee.
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Daffodil Goldby Clinton Scollard
Gold of the daffodil, drawn
Out of the cup of the dawn,
Gold of the daffodil, born
In the bright mines of the morn,
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The First Rose of Summerby Robert Gilfillan
'Tis the first rose of summer that ope's to my view,
With its bright crimson bosom all bathed in the dew;
It bows to its green leaves with pride from its throne,
'Tis the queen of the valley, and reigneth alone.
read more
20 Popular Quotes About Flowers
The beauty of flowers has inspired many thoughtful, endearing, and life-affirming quotes. Here are some of our favorites.
Love is the flower you've got to let grow.John Lennon
Life is the flower for which love is the honey.Victor Hugo
To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.Audrey Hepburn
Love is like a beautiful flower which I may not touch, but whose fragrance makes the garden a place of delight just the same.Helen Keller
Flowers... are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty out values all the utilities in the world.Ralph Waldo Emerson
Flowers always make people better, happier and more helpful; they are sunshine, food, and medicine for the soul.Luther Burbank
Flowers are the music of the ground. From earth's lips spoken without sound.Edwin Curran
Happiness held is the seed; Happiness shared is the flower.John Harrigan
Don't wait for someone to bring you flowers. Plant your own garden and decorate your own soul.Luther Burbank
Earth laughs in flowers.Ralph Waldo Emerson
Flowers don't tell, they show.Stephanie Skeem
Every flower is a soul blossoming in nature.Gerard De Nerval
The butterfly is a flying flower, the flower a tethered butterfly.Ecouchard Le Brun
Where flowers bloom, so does hope.Lady Bird Johnson
If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly our whole life would change.Buddha
A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms.Zen Shin
If I had a single flower for every time I think about you, I could walk forever in my garden.Claudia Adrienne Grandi
The flower that follows the sun does so even in cloudy days.Robert Leighton
Like wildflowers; You must allow yourself to grow in all the places people thought you never would.E.V.
Flowers are like friends; They bring color to your world.Unknown
