January
Carnation

January birthday flower, carnation, smiths flowers midland mi

The carnation has many contradictory meanings. According to the legend, King Louis IX discovered it in Africa and used it as a medication against the plague. In the middle ages it symbolized fertility. Later the flower became the flower of the ‘working class’ in England while the catholic church adopted it as the symbol of the Virgin Mary, and the crucifixion of Christ.

February
Violet

February birthday flower, violet, smiths flowers midland mi

This fragrant flower is tiny yet vigorous in its growth. It is self-pollinating, which is why in the middle ages, the church adopted it to symbolize the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary. This flower is associated with innocent love and virtue.

March
Daffodil

March birthday flower, daffodil, smiths flowers midland mi

This flower is associated with vanity and death. The daffodil is in fact of the narcissus family, and is yellow in color. Legend has it that Narcissus saw his reflection in the water and fell in love with it, he leant forward and eventually fell into the water and drowned. At the spot where he had been kneeling, a daffodil sprang from the ground.

April
Sweet Pea

April birthday flower, sweet pea, smiths flowers midland mi

This flower is in constant bloom, which is why it came to be associated with lasting pleasure. This flower has curling tendrils and vivid colors. 
May
Lily of the Valley

May birthday flower, lily of the valley, smiths flowers midland mi

This fragrant, delicate flower is in fact poisonous. Since it grows only in spring, it signifies the return of happiness. Many youths would await the coming of the lily in May to celebrate as it was thought to bring luck in love.

June
Rose

June birthday flower, rose, smiths flowers midland mi

The rose is truly the queen of flowers. In ancient Rome, youths wore them at Council of elders or into battle. The Catholic Church adopted it as the symbol of the Virgin. According to the Jews, the rose sprang from the first blood that was spilled on Earth.

July
Delphinium

July Birthday Flower, Delphinium, smiths flowers midland mi

This bright flower takes it name from the Greek for ‘Dolphin’, because its petals reminded the ancient Greeks of the fins and snout of the dolphin.

August
Gladiola

August birthday flower, gladiola, smiths flowers midland mi

This is the flower of the gladiators, and symbolizes strong character. It used to grow freely and abundantly in the middle East.

September
Aster

September birthday flower, aster, smiths flowers midland mi

Aster means star and is believed to have sprung from the Earth when the Goddess Virgo spread some stardust on Earth. In Europe they were believed to have magical powers and being capable of driving away the ‘evil eye’

October
Marigold

October Birthday Flower, marigold, smiths flowers midland mi

This bright yellow flower follows the path of the sun like the sunflower. It has medicinal properties and is traditionally used to treat irregular menses, but nowadays much research is being done into its anti-cancer properties.

November
Chrysanthemum

November birthday flower, chrysanthemum, smiths flowers midland mi

A noble flower in Asia: it appears on many Chinese ceramics and represents harvest, rest and ease.

December
Narcisis

December birthday flower, narcisis, smiths flowers midland mi

This flower is associated with vanity and death. Legend has it that Narcissus saw his reflection in the water and fell in love with it, he leant forward and eventually fell into the water and drowned. At the spot where he had been kneeling, a daffodil sprang from the ground.