50+ Lifestyles

May – The Emerald Month

By Eloise Graham

May’s birthstone is the emerald. Mention emerald and we immediately think of that bright, deep jewel-tone green. In reality, it can come in various colors. The scientific name of the emerald is beryl or vberyllium and is mined as such. The chemical composition is Be3Al2(SiO3)6. That would be beryllium, aluminum, silicate and oxygen in its respective ratio.

There are six different types of the beryl gem: emerald, aquamarine, bixbite, goshenite, heliodor, and morganite. Each type is known because of its distinctive color. Emerald and aquamarine are the most sought after.

Let’s study the four “C’s” of this gemstone. Color, clarity, cut and carat are the four. For the month of May we will choose the color green – a vibrant green. The clarity of the stone should be clear not cloudy. This allows light to shine through in brilliant rays. The cut is usually a personal preference. The round cut is often chosen for diamonds, especially smaller ones because it has many facets making the stone look larger and more brilliant. But this is May, the Emerald month, so we will choose the emerald cut. The emerald cut is a square or rectangle cut shape. It has a series of parallel facets, sometimes called steps, on each side and at the corners. Carat refers to the weight of the gem. In layman’s terms, that relates to the size of the gem. The bigger the carat, the bigger the gem.

Lily-of-the-valley is the traditional flower for the month of May. Wispy little strands of bell-shaped white flowers with a lush green backdrop of leaves are an early spring perennial for the yard, garden or woods. It is sweetly scented, nice to smell and okay to touch, but do not eat. Very toxic.

May History in 1908

May 1 – World’s most intense shower (2.47” in 3 minutes) in Portobelo, Panama.

May 2 – “ Take Me our to the Ball Game” registered for copyright.

May 5 – The 34th Kentucky Derby: Arthur Pickens on Stone Street wins in 2:15.2.

May 10 – First Mother’s Day observed (Philadelphia).

May 12 – Wireless Radio Broadcasting is patented by Nathan B. Stubblefield.

May 14 – First passenger flight in an airplane

May 21 -First horror movie, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, premieres in Chicago.