All roses symbolize love, but certain colors of roses can take on special meanings. Opinions vary on the many meanings of the colors, but here are some of the more common ones: 

Red - Love, Romance, Respect, Courage 

Yellow - Joy, Gladness, Freedom, Friendship 

Pink/Peach - Secret Love, Gratitude, Appreciation, Admiration, Sympathy 

White - Reverence, Purity, Innocence, Secrecy 

Coral/Orange - Fascination, Enthusiasm, Desire 

Lavender - Enchantment 

Red and White - Unity 

Red, Pink & White - Trinity 

Carnation: Tradition is very important to you. Your down-to-earth attitude and innate ability to keep confidences makes you one of the most loyal and trusted friends. As a result, you are always surrounded by loved ones who come to you for guidance. 

Daisy: You notice things others miss. For example, the different shades of pink in the sky as the sun sets, the hint of sadness behind someone's smile-which means you are a natural at drinking in all life has to offer. 

Iris: You tend to ge t bored quickly with day-to-day routines. In order to maintain your great vitality and creativity, you need to follow your inspiration wherever it may lead. You thrive and prosper in jobs and situations where you are your own boss. 

Lily: You are a nurturing person. In fact, people are drawn to you. A few words from you can make people feel worlds better. It's no wonder many say you would be a great therapist! However, you shouldn' t feel like you have to ease everyone's troubles; your caring alone accomplishes more than you realize. 

Rose: You are the kind of woman that will bring the Prince Charming out in a man. You are also the kind of friend who gets called first with news-big or small. Despite your wide social circle and busy agenda, you have a secret need for alone time and you will sometimes even feel a little shy. 

Tulip: You thrive on change. You are always dreaming up some way to improve yours and your family's lives. But just as a tulip blooms in the same spot each year, deep down inside, you are often content with what you have. 
 

Gerbera Daisies - These lively, festive flowers originated in Africa and are now cultivated in a dazzling array of cheerful colors. 

Gladioli - Pliny the Elder, a Roman scientist of the first century A.D. named these stately flowers. Struck by the resemblance between the sheath of the flower and the weapon that was carried by Roman soldiers, he called the flower's gladiolus from the Latin word gladius' which means sword. 

Lilies - These striking trumpet-shaped flowers are one of the oldest known to man and are thought to have originated in the Orient. Throughout the ages, they have been popular motif in both secular and religious art. 

Snapdragons - These old-fashioned favorites with the whimsical name are native to the Mediterranean. Their Latin name is Antirrhinum, meaning like a snout. Other common names for these flowers are calves' snouts, lion's lips, toad's mouth and rabbit's mouth. 

Tulip - Symbol of life, love and immortality, actually dates back to the time of Confucius. By the late 1600's in Holland, bulb prices often exceeded the price of precious metals. A single bulb is said to have sold for more that $2,000. 
 

(Article quoted from Society of American Florists)

Do flowers make us happy? In the floral industry we understand the positive impact flowers have on people. We see it firsthand everyday.  But, to demonstrate this scientifically, The Society of American Florists (SAF) partnered with world-renowned researcher Jeannette Haviland-Jones, Ph.D., of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, on a groundbreaking study to examine the effect of flowers on human emotion and well being. After ten months of working closely with the Rutgers research team, on September 22, 2000 at the Consumer Marketing Breakfast at SAF's 116th Annual Convention in Palm Beach, Florida, SAF unveiled to the industry the results of the first-ever Emotional Impact of Flowers Study. 

In a captivating presentation by Dr. Haviland-Jones, convention attendees learned that the presence of flowers triggers happy emotions, heightens feelings of life satisfaction and affects future behavior in a positive manner far beyond what is normally believed. As a result, flowers prove to be a natural and healthful moderator of moods. "Common sense tells us that flowers make us happy," said Dr. Haviland-Jones. "Now, science shows that not only do flowers make us happier than we know, they have strong positive effects on our emotional well being." Specifically, the SAF-sponsored research reveals the following: Flowers have an immediate impa ct on happiness. Study participants expressed "true" or "excited" smiles upon receiving flowers, demonstrating extraordinary delight and gratitude. This reaction was universal, occurring in all age groups. Flowers have a long-term positive effect on moods. 

Specifically, study participants reported feeling less depressed, anxious and agitated after receiving flowers, and demonstrated a higher sense of enjoyment and life satisfaction. Flowers make intimate connections. The presence of flowers led to increased contact with family and friends. Flowers are a symbol for sharing. The study explored where in their homes people display flowers. Once received, arrangements were placed in areas of the home that are open to visitors - such as foyers, living rooms and dining rooms - suggesting that flowers make the space more welcoming and create a sharing atmosphere. "The symbolic significance and the universal impact of flowers remains its outstanding feature," added Dr. Haviland-Jones. "In my work, I rarely find anything that contributes to such significant mood changes as the floral arrangements did."