[HPforGrownups] Re: Flower names

[Jodi Bailey]

No: HPFGUIDX 40180

A few bits and pieces I've found from various sites:

----- Original Message -----
From: "rowen_lm" <rowen_lm at yahoo.com>


>
> "Both Lily and her sister, Petunia, are named after flowers. The lily
> symbolizes purity and innocence. Compare with the petunia, which
> symbolizes anger and resentment."
>
> Hmmm. I also looked on some flower sites. Lily is "return of
> happiness" and Petunia is "I am furious!" Very interesting.
>

Regarding the lily: "A widely held belief regarding this was that it was
unlucky to break or damage the plant would threaten happiness, particularly
for a man as this action would bring bad luck to the female members of his
family resulting in their purity being threatened." (
http://www.mystical-www.co.uk/plantsl.htm ) Also, "Some believe that
planting lilies in a garden will protect the garden from ghosts and evil
spirits." which I guess would kind of tie in with the protection Harry
received from his mother.

>
> Lavender Brown - I couldn't find any meanings here. Maybe it's just
> two colors! lol

All I could come up with for this is one mention that lavender represents
mistrust. It seems rather odd to me that such a widely used plant doesn't
have more symbolism attached to it.

>
> Poppy Pomfrey - An excerpt for WIAN?: "The poppy is one of the oldest
> medicinal plants." and "Her (last) name is most likely derived
> from "comfrey", a medicinal plant" The meaning for Poppies
> is "pleasure, consolation, wealth, success."

The medicinal connection seems most likely, but of course the poppy is most
famously a symbol of remembrance.

>
> Pansy Parkinson - Odd meaning: "thoughts." The word pansy can also
> mean a push over. (i.e. "You're such a pansy!")

"From the French 'pense' for thought, so-named because the flower resembles
a face frowning as if in deep comtemplation." The frown would fit with the
description of her having "a face like a pug."

> Padma - Another excerpt from WIAN?: "Padma (Ganga) is the Hindu
> goddess of the Ganges, India's most sacred river. She is the sister
> of the mountain goddess Parvati." It also means lotus, which stands
> for "estranged love."
>

"The Lotus Flower is the symbol of spiritual development. It is the symbol
of the manifestation of beauty and mental purity (the ability to rise
above) - for although it has its roots in the mud of ponds and lakes, it
raises its flower in immaculate beauty above the surface of the water." (
http://www.meandrojewelry.com/mr.html )


    Jodi