FLORIOGRAPHY: Larkspur

Floriography is The Language of Flowers. A discreet form of communication, particularly used in Victorian times, Floriography has been around for past generations with religious and symbolic meanings, continuing on to this day. A bunch of flowers wrapped in a lace doily and tied with ribbon, also called a Tussie-Mussie, reads like a poem and/or secret message.

My son's birthday is this coming week.  So in honor of him, I decided to do his Birthday Flower.  The Flower to represent all Birthdays in July is the LARKSPUR.

The LARKSPUR is the common name for the delphinium.  Delphinium got its name for the dolphin like blooms. LARKSPUR is native to all the Northern Hemisphere and the top of mountains in tropical Africa.

LARKSPUR is very common in cottage gardens.  LARKSPUR is a love of cool, wet summers

and not a huge fan of hot, dry weather.  Bloom time is late spring to early summer. LARKSPUR is an annual here in the Rocky Mountain Region that I call home.  Considered "Middle of the Pack", LARKSPUR can grow from 1-3 feet tall, great for middle of garden beds and borders.  Plant taller varieties in back of garden beds and dwarf varieties in the front.  With larger varieties, stake to prevent bowing over in high wind.  The LARKSPUR comes in blue, white, and shades of purple and pink.  Sow seeds directly into ground in sun to part shade area.  LARKSPUR is most happy in consistently moist soil. Once blooms have wilted, remove the dead flowers for longer bloom season.

A WORD OF WARNING!!!!

LARKSPUR IS POISONOUS!

Very young  plants and seeds 

are poisonous.  They can cause nausea, 

twitching muscles, paralysis, and even death, if 

ingested.

PLEASE DO NOT EAT OR LET YOUR CHILDREN OR PETS EAT

LARKSPUR makes great cut flowers.  If you cut them once the blooms open and bring inside, they will bloom again.  Add sugar to any arrangements of LARKSPUR. Also can be added to pot pourri mix for color. 

Pests to watch for are slugs, snails, and cyclamen mites.

Now to the FLORIOGRAPHY. Delphinium stands for boldness, big-hearted, and fun.

But LARKSPUR (being a type of delphinium) stands for fickleness, levity, an open heart, and lightness.

Which is really creepy because my son is all those things.  Sorry... thinking out loud.

LARKSPUR is sacred to Venus. For magickal purposes, LARKSPUR can be used for health and protection spells and charms.  

(All images were found on google images.)