June's Birth Flower

June's birth flower is the rose which is rich in symbolism and myth.

The first rose of record is said to be in ancient Greece. The Gods had a tendency to find beauty in tragedy. It was one of these tragic moments that created the rose. Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, created the rose when her tears mixed with the blood of Adonis, her lover.

It seems the Romans created their own legend of the rose’s creation. Roman legend claims there was an incredibly beautiful maiden named Rhodanthe. She was relentlessly pursued by suitors. Exhausted by their pursuit, Rhodanthe sought refuge in the temple of Diana. Diana was jealous of Rhodanthe and when the suitors broke down her temple gates to get near Rhodanthe, she became furious. Diana’s rage led her to turn Rhodanthe into a rose and her suitors into thorns.

The Persian legend explains the creation of the red rose as well as the origin of the nightingale’s beautiful voice. According to legend all roses were originally white and nightingales were ordinary birds who could only chirp. One day the nightingale met a beautiful white rose and fell in love. The nightingale’s love was so intense and his need to express his love so great that he was inspired to sing for the first time. When the nightingale made his moves on the rose and pressed himself up against it the thorns pierced his heart, coloring the rose red.

In England the rose was first looked upon as a symbol of war. A civil war lasting from 1455-1487 between the House of York and the House of Lancaster where The House of York adopted a white rose, the House of Lancaster was represented by a red rose. The war has been dubbed “The War of the Roses”.

Roses have always been used to communicate specific messages and emotions, especially in Victorian times when it was forbidden to speak to others about your feelings. The following are some traditional meanings of rose colors:

Red: Romantic love
Pink: Admiration and grace
Dark Pink: Gratitude and appreciation
Light Pink: Sweetness and innocence
White: Purity, friendship and reverence
Yellow: Friendship and caring
Yellow with red tips: Falling in love
Orange: Passion
Burgundy: Beauty
Black: Death and farewell

Tip of the Day:

Re-cut roses at a 45 degree angle to create the largest surface area for the rose to intake water. Change the water every day. Keep your roses in a cool area of your home. Place them in warm water if you want the buds to open.

If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our entire world would change. ~Author Unknown.

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