The Language of FlowersBy: Vanessa Diffenbaugh The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh is a moving story of hope and forgiveness, and an international bestseller. The Victorians used flowers to express emotions: honeysuckle for devotion, azaleas for passion, and red roses for love. For Victoria Jones, flowers and their meanings are her only connection to the world although for her, they are most useful in expressing feelings such as grief, mistrust and solitude.