If you are a July baby your birth flowers are the water lily and the larkspur. One emerges from deep beneath the water’s surface; the other grows as a single tall stalk from the ground. Both provide a pop of colour during the early to midsummer months!
Larkspurs are a symbol of positivity and dedication. They make a great addition to any garden, given their height and beautiful purple-blue blooms, but beware: these plants are poisonous! While it is beautiful and a welcome addition to any garden, the larkspur is highly poisonous to humans and animals if ingested.
The water lily represents purity and innocence while boosting aquatic ecosystems and serving as an inspiration for one of the world’s great painters.
This post is about the water lily, if you haven't already seen my earlier post about the Larkspur, you can read it here
~ the beautiful water lily ~
There are approximately 70 water lily species, and all of them offer outstanding beauty. These aquatic flowers are rooted in the rich, dense soil of shallow ponds, while the stems grow vertically and the large, flat round leaves and beautiful blooms float on the surface or extend just above it.
Water Lily Meanings and Symbolism
- Water lilies, most notably the white variety, traditionally symbolize purity, innocence, and chastity.
- Pink water lilies signify joy and friendship; red means passion and romance; blue represents calm and wisdom; and yellow symbolizes energy and new beginnings.
- In Buddhism and Hinduism, water lilies represent resurrection and rebirth because the flowers open and close daily. Buddhists also believe water lilies symbolize enlightenment because the beautiful flowers emerge from the dark and dirty floor beneath the water’s surface.
Water Lily in History
- In Greek legends, nymphs are water protectors, so it’s fitting that the water lily’s botanical family name—Nymphaeaceae—is derived from these female divinities.
- According to one Egyptian legend, the creation of the gods began from a blue water lily.
- Some nuns and monks were known to crush the root of water lilies and use it as an anaphrodisiac. It has also been used as a painkiller, anti-inflammatory, and sedative, as well as a treatment for insomnia and anxiety.
- French painter Claude Monet was quite captivated by the water lilies in his home garden. He spent years painting the flowers on his Giverny, France, property and created more than 200 paintings with water lilies as his subject.
- In 1984, the International Waterlily and Water Gardening Society was formed.
- The water lily is the national flower of Bangladesh.
25 comments:
...they are beautiful birth flowers.
Lindas flores. te mando un beso.
Ah, my favourite artist, Claude Monet. I love the water lily, Jan. Thank you so much for 😊 sharing this ❤️
You know, I don't know if I know anyone with a July birthday. The water lilies are pretty though.
Water lilies are a flower I see a lot of on the nearby lake ( which is almost clogged with those large lily pads).
I didn't know that Larkspur are poisonous.
Water Lilies are one of my favourite flowers. I love to see them on the pond at Sizergh. Xx
Love water lilies, Jan.
Hello Jan :)
Thank you for your welcoming visit and very nice comment, and thank you for all the information about the beautiful water lily. I didn't realise I knew so little about them until I read your informative post.
All the best
Sonjia.
Such interesting information about water lilies. I wonder what other anaphrodisiacs there are? I've never thought about that before.
Lindo e cheio de significados o nenúfar!
Gosto de vê-los!
beijos, chica
Hello Jan,
The waterlilies are beautiful! Take care, have a great day!
They are so pretty :-D
Such a lovely post, Jan. I especially enjoyed the Monet painting at the end. :)
I didn't know the water lily was also a birthday month flower for July
They are beautiful
I didn't know most of that about the WL. We do have a place not far from my house where they grow.
Very pretty.
That was very interesting. I know water lily and lotus aren't the same, but as I was reading, I kept thinking about the Buddhist saying, 'no mud, no lotus.'
Water lilies are so pretty. Lots of birthdays in our family in July!!
another great post about "all the things"!! we visit longwood gardens aften and they have the most beautiful water lily ponds that i have ever seen. they are always filled with flowers!!
REPLY TO
jabblog who said ...
Such interesting information about water lilies. I wonder what other anaphrodisiacs there are? I've never thought about that before.
Hello and thank you for your comment, which resulted in a little more research! An anaphrodisiac is a substance that quells or blunts the libido. It is the opposite of an aphrodisiac, something that enhances sexual appetite.
The white lily as already mentioned in this post is an anaphrodisiac.
Herbs like chasteberry have also been used for centuries in monasteries to help manage sexual desire, aligning with the spiritual practices of the monastic life.
A 2003 study has found that glycyrrhizin, the compound in liquorice root, can lower levels of testosterone.
More to read using these two links seen below:-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anaphrodisiac
https://www.anaphro.com/post/who-might-benefit-from-an-anaphrodisiac
All the best Jan
I never thought much about water lilies but they have so many interesting meanings. I enjoyed this. Hope the week is going well Jan.
I didn't realize there were that many kinds of waterlilies, I have only seen the white ones, that is what we have around here.
Mi hija es del mes de julio, me encantan esas flores. Besos.
Claude Monet's painting is beautiful and one of my favourites. I would love a water lily in my pond but I think it is too small for a bridge as well. 😊
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