Communicating with flowers....
I was intrigued by rows of purple orchids, arranged in the middle of Rus/Chinese delegations, as they did their "extended" participation talks. This seemed so different from the pink azaleas, used with the US delegation.
Could there be some hidden meaning here?
According to the flowerglossary.com,
"In traditional Chinese culture, the orchid represents good taste and beauty. Simple and elegant, its fragrance is never overpowering, symbolizing humility and nobility. A good friend may be called an ‘orchid’ friend, as a reference to the orchid’s enduring beauty and understated elegance. In ancient China, the orchid was valued because it could withstand loneliness while remaining full of grace at all times. The orchid is also associated with love and beauty and may be used to represent the love and loyalty of a married couple. When placed in a vase, orchids are a symbol of unity, and the flower also represents wealth and fortune in Chinese culture."
Plus, "Purple Flowers: Purple represents unity, optimism, and elegance."
As for azaleas, they "are poisonous, bloom in spring, and are usually identifiable by their red, pink, cream, or white petals. The Chinese are said to have 600 different varieties of azalea out of 800 worldwide varieties. Despite their poisonous qualities, the flowers are associated with happiness and prosperity in China, and they are the official flowers of several provinces in the country."
