August’s Birthday Blossom is the majestic Gladiolus. This Birthday Blossom is faithful, honorable, and strong.
Did you know that at the first National Spelling Bee in 1925 the winning word was gladiolus? Isn’t that a funny bit of trivia! It is just one of the many interesting things about gladiolus.
The scientific and common name are the same. The name gladiolus comes from the Latin word for sword, due to the spike or blade shape the flowers take. It is even sometimes called the sword lily.
The artist Vincent Van Gogh loved painting flowers and one of his still life paintings shows a beautiful vase of red gladioli.
Not surprisingly, considering the gladiolus’ association with faithfulness, the gladiolus is the flower for 40th wedding anniversaries. But gladiolus isn’t just for long marriages. The gladiolus’ faithfulness and honor make it a lovely way to let someone know that your love will endure.