May Facts

Birth Flower: Lily of the Valley

Botanical Name: Convallaria majalis
Pronunciation: kon-va-LAH-ree-a mah-JA-lis
Availablity: mainly spring but some year-round
Decorative Life: 4-6 days

About This Flower:
The sweetness of lily of the valley does not stop at her dainty white and pink bell-shaped blooms, which bow shyly toward the earth; she also emanates an ambrosial scent that is the darling of perfume makers. Grown by monks as altar decorations, lily-of-the-valley was sometimes called "ladder to heaven" because of the blooms that climb like stairs up its stem. In arrangements, lily of the valley lasts up to 6 days.

Birth Stone: Emerald

Emerald is one of the most highly-prized of all the gems. The name comes from the Greek 'smaragdos', meaning green stone. Emeralds are often characterized by a crystals trapped within, known as the 'jardin' which, under magnification, resemble foliage in a garden. Stones with a "pure grass-green" color are most prized.

According to legend, the wearing of emerald not only cured a wide range of ailments, including low IQ, poor eyesight and infertility, but also enabled the wearer to predict the future. They were mined near the Red Sea during the time of Cleopatra, who wore her emeralds lavishly.

Emeralds are found mainly in Colombia, Brazil, Zambia and Zimbabwe.