By August, summer is in full swing. Gardens are bursting with colour, the evenings are long and golden. This month has 2 flowers dedicated, gladiolus and the red poppy. Both of these blooms have their own story, symbolism, and personality, and capture the warmth and vibrancy of August perfectly.
Gladiolus
Gladiolus, a symbol of strength and love
The gladiolus Also known as “sword lily,” is a member of the iris family (Iridaceae) and is native to Africa, the Mediterranean, and southern Europe, with more than 300 species that come in a range of vibrant colors.
Historically, gladiolus was also believed to have medicinal properties and was used to treat ailments such as colic and coughs.
Symbolically this flower stands for integrity and emotional strength. Gladiolus comes from the Latin word for sword. Roman soldiers would wear them during battle. They believed it gave them strength.
It’s one of the few that can handle the late-summer heat without fading. While other blooms start to drop off, gladiolus is just hitting its stride.
The flower is beautiful in a garden setting, as well as in containers and along borders, but it is most valued as a cut flower. To maximize your cut flowers, cut the spike between the second and fourth leaves when the first flower is showing color and immediately put it in water.
Gladiolus brings height, colour, and elegance to any floral arrangement, making it a beautiful choice for bouquets. Its blooms appear in almost every shade imaginable, from vibrant reds and pinks to warm yellows and oranges, alongside cool purples, soft lavenders, and crisp whites.
One of the things that makes gladiolus especially eye-catching is its striking “bicolour” blooms. Many varieties have contrasting colours at their centres or along the edges of their petals, such as deep purple flowers with ruby-red centres or white petals brushed with soft pink.
Poppy
They flourish in difficult conditions and return year after year, bringing colour and life wherever they bloom. Because they grow so freely in the wild, they have also been linked with agriculture, fertility, renewal, and even the promise of life after death.
It’s a soft-looking flower with delicate petals but don’t let that fool you. It can grow in poor soil and still hold its color. The stems are slender and slightly hairy. The center is dark, which gives the red even more contrast. It’s native to Europe and Asia.
Poppies have been grown and celebrated for thousands of years. In Greek and Roman mythology, they were associated with Hypnos, the god of sleep, and Morpheus, the god of dreams. This connection came partly from the sedative properties found in opium poppies. They are, of course, most widely recognised as a symbol honouring fallen soldiers in wartime.
The flowers are an important pollen source for bees and also make for a great cut flower, although they only last a few days indoors. Cut them when the bud is just beginning to open. After being cut, heat-treat the stem with a match or lighter to stop the milky fluid from leaking into the water.
A beautiful bouquet is always a lovely way to show someone you care and put a smile on their face, but choosing flowers connected to their birth month adds an even more personal touch. It shows thought, meaning, and a little extra effort too.
Flowers have a certain magic about them and a wonderful ability to express what can sometimes feel hard to put into words. A carefully chosen bouquet that reflects someone’s personality and reminds them just how loved they are is a beautiful thing