by Kristen Smeal, Master Gardener
Tussie-Mussie vs. Nosegay
A tussie-mussie is a small bunch of flowers gathered in a paper cone that can represent a message from the giver to the recipient. These floral bundles of communication were common in the Victorian era. Traditionally, red flowers meant love, pink represented friendship or fondness, and marigolds were a symbol of grief. A nosegay is a fragrant bouquet tied together with string. These were worn around the head or bodice in Medieval times to mask unpleasant odors, but are commonly carried by brides in wedding ceremonies of today.
Try making up your own language by giving a tussie-mussie to a family member or friend or cheer someone up with a fragrant nosegay to hang in their workspace. We used a piece of construction paper for both projects, you could use any type of paper or a doily if you have one.
