Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Birth Month Flowers



January – Carnation
February – Violet
March – Daffodils
May – Lily of the Valley
June – Rose
July – Larkspur
August – Gladiolus
September – Aster
October – Calendula
November – Chrysanthemum
December – Narcissus
There are many uses for birth month flowers. Some people use them to create theme gardens. You can have a memorial garden honoring those you love with their birth month flowers. They make thoughtful birthday gifts. Also, you can use them for a fun baby shower theme. Just decorate with flowers from the baby's due date! Tall and elegant, with sword shaped leaves, gladiolas comes in many different colors and varieties. Most originate from southern Africa, though there are a few varieties from Europe and Asia. The name “gladiolas” comes from the latin “gladius”, which means sword.
The gladiolas is a member of the Iris family. It grows well in sandy loam, but can tolerate a variety of soils. It prefers a slightly acidic soil, and cannot overwinter outdoors if the temperature drops below freezing.