17
Apr 2019
by Kathi Ferguson
April showers may bring May flowers, but aside from the weather, the month of April is appreciated for rebirth and endings. The grass grows green, the sun feels warmer, birds fly northwards, flowers are beckoned to bloom, bees begin their nectar collection, and small animals that have been in hibernation come out of their slumber. And, I suppose we humans experience our own kind of metamorphosis as well! It is no wonder that the month gets its name from the Latin word aperio, meaning “to open or bud”.
There are also some fun facts about this first full month of spring you may not know.
April’s Honorary Flowers are Daisies and Sweet Peas
Simple yet sophisticated, daisies emit cheer and joy in spades. Its flower meaning is loyal love, innocence, and “I will never tell!” Daisies are native to north and central Europe, with the oldest one on record known as Daeges eage (or Day’s eye), since its petals close at night and open in the morning.
The Daisy flower is composed of white petals and a yellow center, although the flower can often reveal a pink or rose color. Interestingly, daisies are made up of two types of flowers – disk florets and petal-like white ray florets. The disk florets are found at the center with the ray florets at the periphery, arranged in such a way to give the impression of a single flower. Not to mention, salads can be kicked up a notch by adding the leaves. They are edible!
In the language of flowers, the enchanting sweet pea means delicate or blissful pleasure. Cultivating these fragrant beauties go back at least 300 years. Slow to germinate, sweet peas can be tricky to grow. A favorite modern variety with creamy-yellow blossoms and lilac shading is called ‘April in Paris’…how appropriate.
Leonardo da Vinci Was Born April 15, 1452
Renowned primarily as a painter, Leonardo was a Renaissance genius, widely considered one of the most diversely talented individuals ever to have lived. Displaying exemplary skill in the areas of drawing, sculpture, science, engineering, technology, architecture, and anatomy, Leonardo seems to defy the definition, “Jack of all trades and master of none”. Leonardo’s lifelong enthusiasm for staging theatrical productions infused his paintings and inventions.
The Diamond is April’s Birthstone
Thought to be one of the hardest substances on the globe, diamonds date back billions of years. The diamond is the traditional birthstone of April and holds significant meaning for those born in that month. It is thought to provide the wearer with better relationships and an increase in inner strength. Wearing diamonds claims to bring other benefits such as balance, clarity and abundance. It is also symbolic of eternal love, and is known as the most coveted crystal to date.
