July Facts

Birth Flower: Larkspur

Botanical Name: Consolida spp.
Pronunciation: con-SOL-i-da
Availablity: year-round
Decorative Life: 4-12 days

About This Flower:
Though sometimes confused with delphinium, there are delicate differences between the two. Larkspur more closely resembles a bird's claw foot, comes in white, pink, lavender and purple, and is a heavy drinker! Replenish water levels daily and include flower food. Poisonous, like all members of the Ranunculaceae family that includes buttercups and anemones, this annual has nevertheless been used to heal poisonous stings in Britain since the 16th century. In arrangments, it lasts up to 12 days.

Birth Stone: Ruby

The ruby has been the gem of passion and heart's desire since the dawn of time. It is known as the 'Lord of the Gems' because of its rarity and beauty. Derived from the Latin word 'Tuber,' it simply means red. Rubies' finest color is vivid, almost pure spectral red with a very faint blue undertone (as seen in Burmese rubies).

People once believed that rubies possessed an eternally-burning inner flame. Rubies were considered the wedding stone through the Middle Ages and early Renaissance, as they were supposed to keep passion alive and promote lasting love and contentment in marriage.

The finest rubies emanate from Burma, having been mined there since ancient times. Other sources include Thailand, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Tanzania, Cambodia, Afghanistan and India.