The beautiful hot month of July is the said to be the most productive growing month out of the entire year. Perhaps this is why it has two birth flowers associated with it: The Larkspur and the Water Lily.

Larkspur
Also called the “Larks Heel” by William Shakespeare, the Larkspur is a beautiful compact flower traditionally found Southern Europe. The Larkspur can now be found growing throughout North America and is a beautiful addition to any garden.

The Larkspur gets its name from the flowers which have 5 petals which grow together to form a hollow space with a spur on the end. The Larkspur blooms in a variety of colors with the most popular being white, pink and purple or mauve.

This complicated flower is said to evoke joy and a sweet disposition, but is quite toxic and is said to be a large cause of cattle poisoning and deaths on farms in the United States. Its black seeds are poisonous if consumed yet have been used in the past to protect people’s hair from nits and lice. The juice of the flowers when mixed with alum produces a blue ink which can be used for dyeing fabric and writing; and it is said that the townspeople of Transylvania used the flower to ward off witches from the stables.

The Larkspur, or Delphinium, blooms in late spring and is pollinated by butterflies and bees and is a beautiful addition to any garden or unique flower designs.

Water Lily
Those lucky enough to be born in July can also call the Water Lily their birth flower. This exotic looking plant blooms year-round in temperate and tropical climates around the world, even as a wild flower in Edmonton, Alberta. The Water Lily comes in a variety of colors and according to Indian legend, was originally a star that fell from the sky.

The Water Lily is often interchanged with the lotus, the Buddhist symbol for enlightenment and is the national flower of Bangladesh (the blue Water Lily is the national flower of Sri Lanka.)

It’s leaves and flowers grow above the water while the plant remains rooted in soil. They are commonly used as ornamental plants because of their beauty and place within nature as a peaceful flower, and have been popularly depicted in a series of paintings by Monet.

Whether used as an ornamental flower or a symbol of joy, the Water Lily is definitely a positive addition to any backyard pond.