Posted by camille – February 8, 2008 4:53 PM

Okay, this is it, people -- V Day! Valentine's Day is this Thursday. Florists in towns big and small will be working overtime to ensure that each bouquet arrives on time. We all know that roses are the V-Day all-star, but a dozen red roses isn't the only way to send a message of love to your significant other. There are literally thousands of flowers to choose from, each one with their own significance and meaning.

Before selecting blossoms for your bouquet, take a look at this index on floriography or the Language of Flowers. Most of these meanings had existed for centuries before Victorians adapted this subtle language as a way to send coded messages. In polite Victorian society, verbal contact between unmarried men and women was limited and subject to very strict rules of conduct. So, would-be lovers would send romantic messages to one another in the form of bouquets or single flowers.

So, according to the Language of Flowers, if your suitor presented you with a bouquet made of Camellias (unpretending excellence), Chrysanthemums (love) and Dahlias (elegance and dignity), you could safely assume that your beau held you in very high esteem and perhaps a trip to the altar may be in your near future.

However, if you received a bouquet of Lavender (mistrust), Rue (regret) and Marigold (pain and grief), the relationship was pretty well over and it was time to look for a new suitor.

Of course, home-grown bouquets can be just as beautiful and meaningful as expensive purchased ones. If you'd like to plant your own florist's shop in your backyard, check out our Roses A-Z and Perennial Power features on HGTV.com for tips on planting and caring for roses and a colorful spectrum of year-round perennials.

For tips on creating your own unforgettable arrangements, check out this comprehensive site full of floral arrangement tips, tool explanations and gorgeous arrangements to use for inspiration.