[annalex]

OK. About those flowers. When with staff, the flowers represent the method of how Mary's spouse was chosen, see The Protoevangelium of James chapter 9 (in actuality they were doves and not flowers emerging from the staff, but the artists wisely sought to avoid the confusion of the doves of St,. Joseph's rod with the Holy Spirit).

The lilies is a reference to his chastity. No relation to the Bourbon Lily.

He is, of course, often depicted with carpenter tools as well. Among other things, he is the patron saint of fighting communism and of the New World.

Wiki

[P-Marlowe]

It wasn't the flowers, it was the boy scout sign.

[P-Marlowe]

And is that the holy hand grenade of Antioch?