Just like with the gems, each month has a designated birth flower. July’s birth flower is the Larkspur.

This birth flower is from the buttercup family, native throughout the Northern Hemisphere. The plants flower from late spring to late summer, and are pollinated by butterflies and bumble bees.

Other names are, lark’s heel, lark’s claw and knight’s spur. The flower has five petals which grow together to form a hollow flower with a spur at the end, which gives the plant its name.

Many species are cultivated as garden plants and for flower arrangements with distinctive blue flowers.

All parts of the plant contain an alkaloid and are very poisonous, causing vomiting when eaten, and death in larger amounts. Contact with and/or consumption of leaves or flowers by livestock or by children who are attracted by the often-showy flowers can be fatal. Another possible cause of poisoning by this group of plants is the abuse of herbal medicines prepared from them. These medicines are almost never taken internally and even when used externally can cause skin irritation.

Alkaloids are nitrogen-bearing alkaline chemicals that originate in plants. They are derived from amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, which especially affect the nervous system. Many plants have different alkaloids present, each with specific activity. Some alkaloids are useful medicines; others are harmful, even fatal. Most are bitter tasting.

Unlike some flowers that are added to salads, this is one that should not be. Nice to look at, fatal to consume.

Do you have these flowers growing in your garden?

Updates on new arrangements and upcoming events will be posted as soon as possible to keep you in the know.

Have a great day!

Lilacs should be grown in full sun, and prefer rich, well-drained soil.

Flowers can range in color from the most popular pink to purple, although white and yellow varieties are also available.

Lilac bushes also offer a good source of shade and privacy.

Provide good air circulation by keeping the branches pruned. Prune right after blooming is over. Also cut the dead flowers off when they’re done blooming. This will prevent the seed from forming and thereby promote more profuse flowering next spring.

Lilacs are now in bloom. Enjoy them while you can.

Westdale Florists is a leading florist in the Hamilton, Ontario area. Check out their website at http://www.westdaleflorists.ca

What is your favorite color of lilac?

What is your favorite flower?

(photo courtesy of Flikr)