50+ Lifestyles

Some July Trivia

By Eloise Graham

July is the seventh month of the year. It is the fourth month to have 31 days.

The birthstone is the ruby, a brilliant red gemstone. The ruby symbolizes love, passion and energy. Early pagan cultures believed that rubies had power over life. The name is derived from the Latin word ruber, which means red.

There are two flowers for the month of July: the larkspur and the water lily.

The Larkspur: This flower is an annual also called delphinium. The name larkspur comes from the Tudors. They thought the bloom had a resemblance to a lark’s claw or spur. According to Greek mythology, this flower bloomed where the blood of Ajax was spilled in the battle of Troy. This plant is known as a protective plant to repel venomous snakes and cure scorpion stings. In England, people sprinkled the petals in their bath water to protect themselves from ghosts. Native Americans picked the flower to use as a dye. A beautiful flower in a garden setting, it also grows in the wild in the United States as well as England. The flower comes in a variety of hues and each one has a different meaning or symbolism. The blue larkspur symbolizes dignity and grace while the pink flower hints at contrariness, flirtation and coquettishness. A white larkspur symbolizes a happy nature and the purple blossom symbolizes a first love.

The Water Lily: The water lily is one of the oldest aquatic plants. The tubers with fine roots grow in the soil of the pond. The large glossy leaves that are on top of the water provide shade for the fish below. The plant also acts as a filter of sorts in a well balanced pond, helping to control algae. The flowers themselves are usually white, pink or yellow. The lily symbolizes joyfulness, fickleness and sweetness.