Pink and blue larkspur.

Larkspur is the common name for flowering plants in the buttercup family. Colors range from a pale pink to deep purple. There is a white variety as well. Larkspur can attain heights up to 7 feet. In the past, the name larkspur has been used interchangeably with the name delphinium, however they are now considered to be separate genus’s; the larkspur is annual while the delphinium is perennial. The name delphinium comes from a Greek word because the partially opened buds resemble the bottle-nose of dolphins. The name larkspur comes the belief that the flowers looks like a lark’s foot: larkspur, lark’s heel and lark’s claw have all been used.

The color for July is pink and means open heart, pink in particular means fickleness and talkativeness.

The larkspur was introduced to Britain in the late 16th century where they were believed cure poisonous stings.

Legend tells of two boys looking to strike in rich during the famous Gold Rush of 1849. The adventure spread from their Midwestern home to the California coast. Throughout their journey the boys encountered an onslaught of poisonous snakes and nasty insects. To defend themselves the boys used tall larkspurs to ward off the attackers.

image: Sarah Smith [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Ruby Pendant Necklace from Amazon

Ruby comes from the Latin word rubber meaning “more red”. Rubies comes in a many shades of red, it depends on the chromium and iron content of the stone. It is the second hardest mineral known to exist, diamond is the first.

Ruby is the traditional, mystical,and ayurvedic birthstone for July and the ayurvedic birthstone for December.

Luster: vitreous | Hardness: 9 | Density: 4

Legends & Lore:

• Ruby is known as the love stone, it is given to open the heart, reconcile lover’s quarrels, express passion and promise love.
• It is believed to stop hemorrhaging and inflammatory disorders.
• Ruby is the gemstone for Wisconsin.
• If worn on the left hand or as a brooch on the left side the wearer would live peacefully with his enemies.
• An ancient verse: “The gleaming ruby should adorn, All those who in July are born., For thus they’ll be exempt and free, From lover’s doubts and anxiety”.

Learn more about birthstones.

Red is the color for June.

The rose is one of the most popular flowers and by far the most well known. There are even fossil records that show roses existed in prehistoric times. Roses were first cultivated in Asian a little over 5,000 years ago.

Red is the color associated with June and means love, respect and I love you.

Legends are numerous…

The rose blushed with shame when God expelled Adam and Eve from Eden.
Cleopatra scattered rose petals before Mark Anthony’s feet.
Nero let roses fall from the ceiling during feasts.
In Roman mythology, a beautiful woman named Rhodanthe was constantly pursued by suitors. Though she continued to turn them away they continued even breaking into her home. The goddess, Diana was so angered by this she turned Rhodanthe into a beautiful rose and her suitors into thorns-that never would reach the precious petals.
In the middle ages a rose was suspended from the ceiling of a council chamber, pledging all present to secrecy, or sub rosa, “under the rose”. The term is still used today.
According to English superstition, if the petals fall from a fresh-cut red rose, bad luck will follow.

Rainbow Moonstone Earrings from Amazon

Moonstones are Potassium Aluminium Silicate. They may be colorless, white, yellow, orange, green, pink or gray. No matter the color they have a white or blue sheen. They may be transparent or translucent or anywhere in-between. The best is considered to be colorless with a blue sheen.

Moonstone is the traditional and mystical birthstone for June and the ayurvedic birthstone for September.

Luster: vitreous | Hardness: 6 | Density: 2.5

Legends & Lore:

• It is believed to soothe and balances emotions; encourages inner growth and strength.
• Romans thought it changed with phases of moon.
• In India the moonstone is regarded as a sacred stone and believed to bring good fortune.
• Moonstone is said to balance yin and yang.
• State gemstone for Florida and New York.

Learn more about birthstones.

Alexandrite earrings from Amazon

Alexandrite is a variety of chrysoberyl that actually changes color from green in daylight to red in incandescent light. Discovered in Russian in 1830, alexandrite was named for Czar Alexander II. The Old Russian imperial colors are red and green. Natural alexandrite is extremely rare and hence very expensive. There are many synthetic versions available.

Alexandrite is a traditional birthstone form June.

Luster: vitreous | Hardness: 8.5 | Density: 3.6

Legends & Lore:

• It is believed to help with low self-esteem, it gives the wearer tranquility, longevity and bring wealth.
• It is believed help with central nervous system disorders; the spleen and the pancreas.
• Poets have attributed the description of “emerald by day and ruby by night”.

Learn more about birthstones.

Sterling Silver FW Pearl and Diamond Pendant from Amazon

Pearls are formed when an irritant such sand granules are taken in by mollusks. Cultured pearls are created when people introduce the irritant to the mollusks. Pearls are commonly white however they may also be brown, silver, cream, black or pink depending on the type of mollusks and the water it lives in.

Pearl is the traditional and ayurvedic birthstone for June and the mystical birthstone for November.

Hardness: 3.5-4

Legends & Lore:

• Pearls are believed to eliminate emotional imbalances and to aid stomach, spleen, intestinal tract and ulcer problems.
• An old legend says that to impress Mac Anthony, Cleopatra placed a pearl in a glass of wine and when it dissolved she drank it.
• Pearls were thought to be the tears of God.
• Pearls are referred to as the “Queens Gem”; (diamonds are the “Kings Gem”).
• An old legend as told by Pliny suggested that oysters rose to the surface of the sea beneath the moons rays, opened their shells and were fertilized by drops of dew creating pearls
• “Roman pearls” are really glass bead pearls.
• Gemstone for Kentucky and Tennessee.

Learn more about birthstones.

In France the flower (known as muguet) is handed out on May 1st.

An old wife’s tale says the fragrance lures the nightingale helping him find a mate.

One Sussex legend tells of St. Leonard who fought against a terrible dragon. After a lengthy battle he finally defeated the dragon, unfortunately he had taken on many wounds and where his blood fell lilies-of-the-Valley grew. The woods where the battle took place is known as St. Leonard’s Forest and to this day lilies-of-the-Valley grow in large numbers.

Moss Agate Rectangle Pendant and Earring Set from Amazon.

Agate is composed of layers of quartz.

Agate is the ayurvedic for May and the mystical birthstone for September.

Hardness: 7 | Density: 2.65 – 2.66

Legends & Lore:

• In general, agate is good for transmutation and is beneficial for stomach problems.
• Fire agate grounds and balances.
• Red, orange, yellow, brown agate is good for grounding and helps with stomach, colon, liver, spleen, kidney disorders.
• Moss agate helps secure emotional and mental priorities as well as blood sugar balance.
• Blue Lace agate helps one to reach high spiritual places.
• Agate is the unofficial mineral of Arizona, the rock of Kentucky and Nebraska, the stone of Mississippi and Tennessee, the gemstone of Louisiana, Montana, Minnesota, Washington and South Dakota.

Learn more about birthstones.

Solitaire Style 2.75 carats Blue Sapphire Ring from Amazon.

The word sapphire comes from the Latin sappheiros meaning blue stone. Sapphire comes in a variety of colors (blue, orange, yellow, violet, green, white and pink). Unless stated otherwise sapphire is understood to be blue. Color changing sapphires vary from blue to violet depending on the light.

Sapphire is the traditional for September, the ayurvedic for August, and the mystical birthstone for May.

Luster: vitreous | Hardness: 9 | Density: 4.0

Legends & Lore:

• Sapphires are believed to bring spiritual enlightenment, inner peace and clear thinking.
• Kings wore sapphire to protect them from harm.
• Sapphire engagement rings mean commitment and loyalty of the heart.
• Prince Charles gave Princess Diana a blue sapphire engagement ring.
• Sapphire is the gemstone for Montana.

Learn more about birthstones.

Pink is the color for April.

The flower for April is the sweet pea. Its botanical name is Lathyrus odoratus, Lathyrus meaning pulse and odoratus meaning scented. The sweet pea originated in 17th Italy and comes in purples, pinks, creams and peaches. There are around 150 species of Sweet Pea. Pink is the color for April. Sweet peas in the language of flowers means “delicate pleasures”, “departure”, and “I am thinking of you.”

Placing sweet peas in the home are believed to improve general well-being, boost male and female libido, and lessen the effects of a hangover.

Superstition has it that seeds sown before sunrise on Saint Patrick’s Day will have larger and more fragrant blossoms.

In the study of heredity, Father Gregor Mendel first performed his work in genetics using sweet peas.