Ring around the rosies, pocket full of posies...you're right, of course it means flowers. Seems the two words are related, though. Here's what one online dictionary said:

Main Entry: po·sy Pronunciation: 'pO-ze Plural: posies Etymology: alteration of poesy
1 : a brief sentiment, motto, or legend
2 a : BOUQUET, NOSEGAY b : FLOWER

Any lady over the age of 80 knows what a posey is, and is thrilled to receive one. Typically made up of a small bouquet of Violets and/or Pansies with just about anything else used as a filler, tie a ribbon around the stems and present it. You've just made your first Posey. They have the power to brighten anyone's day. You could even use Dandelions! Anything will do. Just keep it small. Use tiny jars, cream pitchers, bud vases, jelly glasses, liquor sample bottles, anything small to put them in. I keep them lined up on my kitchen windowsill all Spring and Summer and look fwd to making my first one of the year soon.

Thank you Roberta and Quirk! For some reason these weren't sent to me thus the delay in thanking you. I knew it had something to do with violets! So pretty, I remember one when I was a child with a paper lace doilly around the bottem of it. LindaNC

A tobacco Posey is a tobacco flower and the theme of an old confederate song, 'The Rose of Alabamy'.

The rose of Alabama is singing about a black girl. Oh brown Rosie, the rose of Alabama. My sweet tobacco posey was the rose of