Writing my way through the A-to-Z blogging challenge, I’ve tasked myself with leading you on a meandering tour of the virtual garden of delights and curiosities and thoughts that make up my world – all through the lens of unusual, obscure, or simply charming-to-me words.
F is for…
florescence: a state or period of flourishing, of blossoming
If you know me, you understand I’d be hard-pressed not to include some flower-related word in my abecedarium. Today’s word fits that, even though the definition doesn’t strictly show it. Truth is that 18th century botany took to famously adapting Latin words, and they chose florescence to mean the blooming of a flower. From there it became more widely adopted to mean thriving in other contexts than just botany.
I’ve been thinking lots about flowers lately. Well that’s true always, but I saw the first tulip leaf poking up the other day, so I’m now eagerly anticipating the actual appearance of flowers here.
Most people know that each month has a gemstone associated with it, and it’s also true that there is a flower (or perhaps a couple) associated with each month as well.
I’m not sure where the custom began, and the more cynical explanation is likely florists wishing to encourage more sales. But I suspect it’s more complicated and nuanced that that.
Flowers have been used for decoration, for sacred purposes, perfumery, adornment, and for medicinal assistance probably forever, but it was the early Romans who began giving flowers as gifts. I like the idea of flowers offered as a little blessing – a wish that the “medicine” or mojo essence of the flower be gifted to the recipient. And, of course, back in the Victorian times, elaborate languages of flowers, floriography, were created to express sentiments not so easily shared overtly. Frankly I imagine it was quite fun crafting coded messages.
But how specific flowers got associated with specific months is a mystery to me. For some months it seems rather obvious that the most prevalent bloomers are chosen – March brings the daffodil; May the lilies-of-the-valley.
July, my birth month, is represented by the Larkspur (and also the water lily). Both are lovely flowers, with many members in their families, and I feel lucky to have both to choose from. And really, why settle for one, when you can have two? Still, here’s a photo of the lovely larkspur.
But let’s talk a little about Larkspur today. It’s a member of the buttercup family, and despite its lovely appearance, ingesting it is toxic. Look but don’t eat.
There’s a little mystery/controversy over Larkspur as the name is often used interchangeably with Delphinium. But current consensus is that Larkspur is an annual and Delphinium are perennials.
I’m always fascinated by creation tales and folklore, and years ago I heard a fabulous story about Larkspurs. I’ve never been able to track down a specific credited story, but the sort of generic tale credited to an unspecified Native American Nation, says a sky dweller tore open the night sky with a spike so she could climb down and visit Earth. It turns out bits of sky got stuck to the spike, and as she climbed down the sun dried out the spike and bits of sky. These bits then disintegrated and were scattered across the Earth and thus became our beautiful Larkspur flowers. I can never look at Larkspurs without thinking of that charming tale.
Lest you think they’re just pretty flowers, they have a hard-working history as well. They’ve been used to create ink, dyes, used externally as medicine, and even deliberately as poison. But I’ll enjoy them just as the delightful blooms of my birth month.
In the true spirit of florescence, I wish as Thich Nhat Hanh so beautifully said: “May our heart’s garden of awakening bloom with hundreds of flowers.”
Do you know flower is associated with your birth month? I’d love to hear which. Is it one of your favorites? Have you ever gifted someone, or yourself, a specific type of flower because of it’s meaning? Is there something you want to celebrate that’s blossoming in your life at the moment? Do tell – you know I love to hear.
I’ve never intentionally made a gift of flowers based on meanings. You’d think a wordy girl like me would be into flower meanings, but I’m more inclined to make a bouquet that looks pretty, drawn more to the colors. [Oddly enough yellow flowers were the catalyst for my blog post today.]
There’s so much to love about flowers , and their rainbow of colors is so satisfying. I’m especially fond of purples. I saw your post and your yellow flowers – lovely!
I loved the book “The Language of Flowers” which dealt with the messages behind various flowers and bouquets. I don’t know the flower for August. My tulips are starting to bloom (there are 4 now) and if we have the sunny weather we’re promised, there will be many more in the following weeks. It sounds like yours are making progress too.
I enjoyed “The Language of Flowers” as well, and like that it pointed out there were many interpretations for every flower.
Hooray for blooming tulips! August’s flower is gladiolus.
Hari OM
The flowers slated for April are daisies and sweetpeas. Only found that out in recent times. Interesting. They are two of my absolutely cottage plant faves! Simple and unfussy. YAM xx
Daisies and sweetpeas are wonderful, and while I haven’t heard the term cottage plants before, I love that description. While I love way too many flowers to say I have a favorite, I really do like almost all the ones I consider old-fashioned (because my grandmother grew them). But I’m sure they are exactly what would be considered cottage flowers.
Hari OM
Yes, that’s probably the case; shrubs like hydrangea (aka ‘hortense’), lilac, fuchsia, then border plants like the daisies, sweetpeas, aquilegia, lily of the valley and even the Honesty! Yxx
I’ve not heard the the alternate name “hortense” – I like it! I’m looking forward to my bleeding hearts starting to bloom. It seems a bit late, but we’ve had a couple of warm sunny days and I’m thinking things will start popping now.
What a relaxing post. I dearly miss flowers. When I do my needed, 6 am grocery shopping I spend 5 minutes checking out the flowers near my building in NYC before I go back inside to shelter in place. So this post and photos are much appreciated.
We’re having to take advantage of all the joy windows we can aren’t we? I’m glad you get a few minutes for flower appreciation before sequestering again. Thanks for stopping by Molly.
Ah! Flowers. I could go on and on and never stop.
Let’s start with what I don’t know and then work my way to what I know a little about.
February is my birth month and I don’t know which flower is associated with it.
I love larkspurs and water lillies. And that creation story is now lodged securely in my mind’s eye. Love it.
Flowers have always been a part of the prayers and offerings ritual in Indian homes: Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Jains, Sufis and Buddhists offer flowers to their deities, temples, holy books, priests and gurus. In temples, one gets flowers as prasad (the divine blessings) which we used to keep pressed in our books in the hope that our grades will be good:)
I wear flowers in my hair whenever I can–jasmine, marigold, hibiscus , frangipani and even the steadfast bougainvillea which survives Doha heat unlike the rest.
I love to cobble up bouquets with whatever is growing in our garden to take to friends when I visit them. It can be anything from basil flowers to neem leaves to tecoma blooms.
As I said, I can goon and on…will stop now to rest your eyes:)
I could listen to talk about flowers all day. Only taking breaks to look at them and enjoy their scents. 🙂 I love that you wear flowers in your hair, and that you have a large enough garden to gather impromptu bouquets for friends. I’m sure you’re always a welcome visitor.
You have me wanted to press flowers in books. I haven’t don’t that in a long time. And although there are a number of “systems” defining what the flower of your birth month is, here it’s often thought to be Iris (or sometimes Violets).
I love iris and violets.
There must be a link between the colour purple and February because the stone assigned to my birth month is Amethyst.
February sounds like a pretty wonderful month with all that gorgeous purple! It doesn’t seem right that it should be the shortest month.
I have some lovely amethyst stones – they’re so tranquil and soothing.
I’m a July birthday, as well, and always thought delphiniums were a subset of larkspurs, so it’s nice to learn the proper distinction. That pure delphinium blue is so rare and precious it does my heart good.
In the Victorian “language of flowers” yellow roses symbolize “decrease of love, jealousy,” but my husband sometimes gets me yellow roses because he knows I love them. Which just goes to show that arbitrary designations are as nothing compared with true thoughtfulness.
Black and White (Words and Pictures)
The blue blue blue delphinium is indeed like precious gold, and I would love an artist’s brush of it. I love your roses story – it makes my heart happy.
My dad was a florist so you’d think I’d know a lot more about them than I do. I think that is a sadness of mine since my dad passed away a long time ago. I wish I would have talked to him more about them – and other things.
I’m sorry there’s sadness around that for you Janet. It’s hard when our hearts hold tenderness in that way. But what you don’t know about flowers you make up by knowing music and creativity. There’s only so much we can each hold, and it’s good to choose what truly pleases you.
I have flowers that reseeded this year. I guess my garden took over for spring. Flowers are always cheerful.
Enjoy those tulips.
The Letter F
Yay for self-propagating gardens! Now if only weeds would learn to pull themselves. 🙂
I made geranium tea yesterday from the 2 I have on the front porch. It’s got a lovely, subtle, floral taste. Next I may try dandelion tea as we have a constant supply of them in our yard.
Oh fabulous – I wish I could share a cup with you Candace. Geraniums are much underestimated in my opinion. It’s too early for dandelions here, but they’ll be showing up soon I suspect. Just be sure you’re not getting lawn chemical drift from any neighbors before you brew up a cup.
This is wonderful:
“I like the idea of flowers offered as a little blessing – a wish that the “medicine” or mojo essence of the flower be gifted to the recipient.”
Useful info on the larkspur.
Thanks. I think there are so many ways we can honor our friends and loved ones, and let them know we love them.
January birth flowers are carnations and snowdrops. I love both, and both have some pretty fun folktales and legends attached! 🙂 I really like the larkspur tale too!
The Multicolored Diary
LOL – of course you’d know the folktales and legends – I love that! I love the spicy scent of carnations and snowdrops are such precious reminders Spring is on the way.