Clematis

Clematis spp.

Gemini 

Personal growth

Personal support and beliefs 

Perennial vine (deciduous or evergreen depending on variety), that produces large, often showy blooms in white, purple, blue, pink, red or bi-color. Plants like full sun on top, with cool/shaded roots. Vines will climb trellises, arbors, fences or trees by twining leaf stems.

Clematis flowers are star-like, with 4 to 8 petals (sepals) that may be flat, ruffled or recurved.  Bloom times depend on variety, from spring bloomers to fall bloomers. Leaves are deciduous or evergreen and are a medium green. As the vine grows, it sends out long stems with leaves spaced along them. Each leaf is attached to the stem by a slender stalk (the petiole) and when the petiole touches a support (such as a trellis), it coils around it anchoring the vine in place. Without a support, vines will sprawl on the ground. Plants are deer- and rabbit-resistant.

Clematis teaches us about personal growth. It reaches ever higher and blooms brightly - with support. What are you reaching for? Regarding personal growth, do you need continuing education, experience or mentorship to reach your goals? All of these support our continued growth for a lifetime. Have you chosen the mentor, the educational institution and your support network wisely and for the right reasons? Do all of them have the integrity that you have?

The other side of being supported is an examination of what you may be clinging to. Are you relying on continued mentorship or learning when you've become the person with experience who should now be the teacher?  Do you have old beliefs that are not your own or old boundaries that served you in your youth, such as keeping people at arm's length, that are no longer needed? 

Are you ready to let go of your support and "sprawl on the ground" for a while as you grow you own support in life? Keep in mind that without support, Clematis continues to bloom. 

Clematis blooms in a variety of colors and in a variety of seasons. You can chose your own color or season in which to bloom, as well as the color of your beliefs. You can chose to bloom in all colors and all seasons. Be prepared for your beliefs to change as you grow ever higher on your own trellis and reach for the stars.

Many popular ornamental species originated in China and Japan; plants have been used for thousands of years in traditional Chinese medicine. Clematis is used in folk medicine for topical and other ailments and is also used as a Bach flower remedy to help with focus.

Some varieties are:

• Clematis 'Jackmanii' – deep purple, summer bloomer
• Clematis montana – spring bloomer, fragrant
• Clematis 'Nelly Moser' – light pink with deep stripes
• Clematis 'Sweet Autumn' (terniflora) – late bloomer with white flowers and a strong scent
• Clematis vitalba-- found across central and southern Europe. Also called Traveler's Joy or Old Man's Beard

 

 

 

 

Edelweiss

Leontopodium nivale

Strength, Reflection

Edelweiss produces star-shaped, white flowers. Plants grow at high altitudes, reflecting the stars back to the cosmos and representing the stars on Earth. Edelweiss is for people who feel a strong affinity to the cosmos or if you look at the night sky and you feel you are part of or connected to universal energy. Edelweiss flowers represents the earthly symbolism of the cosmos, an energy that may help with defining your truth, your core beliefs, within your musings and meditations. 

The plants are well-adapted to harsh environments, showing the strength of the people of the Earth and our ability to survive in difficult conditions. Edelweiss has woolly, white flowers and leaves covered in dense, tiny hairs that protect it from cold, drought and intense sunlight. Plants grow low to the ground, from 3 to 8 inches in height. It forms a compact, mat-like cluster of stems and leaves, allowing it to thrive in rocky, high-altitude environments. This plant shows us how to gather ourselves into the core of our being to survive difficult external conditions as well as the glare of the opinions of others. People who work in public jobs can reflect on this energy to gather themselves into the strength of their own truth, to move forward, while those them may offer opinion and speculation on what they think that truth means. 

These small, perennial alpine plants are native to the mountainous regions of Europe, particularly the Alps and the Carpathians. Edelweiss grows in rocky, limestone areas at high altitudes, often above 5,900 feet (1,800 meters). Flowers bloom from July to September. 

What appears to be a single Edelweiss flower is actually a cluster of small, yellowish florets surrounded by several leaf-like bracts. The plant's leaves are narrow, lance-shaped, and also covered in a silvery, woolly texture. This adaptation helps the plant retain moisture. Edelweiss tolerates strong winds, low temperatures and poor soil. It shows us that we too can bloom no matter where are we are planted and can thrive in difficult or harsh living conditions.

Edelweiss can be propagated from seed.  Seeds respond best when kept cold for a period of weeks before planting and take from 2 to 6 weeks to germinate.

While once picked almost to extinction, Edelweiss is now a protected species in many areas. In traditional herbal medicine, Edelweiss has been used for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The flower is also used in cosmetics. 

Edelweiss is the national flower of Austria, Bulgaria, Italy, Slovenia and Switzerland. 

Mullein

Verbascum thapsus

Aquarius, Gemini, Leo, Taurus

Journey from darkness to light

Mullein is a tall, biennial herbaceous (non-woody) plant known for its tall, yellow flower spikes, medicinal uses and resilience in a variety of environments. Mullein has a taproot that helps it access deep water sources, allowing it to thrive in dry or rocky soils.

Mullein leaves are oval to lance-shaped, and can grow up to 12 inches (30 cm) long. Leaves are larger at the base of the spike. The leaves grow in a circular pattern close to the ground during the plant’s first year. The leaves are covered in dense, soft hairs, giving them a velvety feel and are typically a gray-green or silvery color due to the fine hairs. Exposure to cold is required for the plant to flower the following year. 

The second year, plants produce a flower stalk that is 6-10 feet (1.8-3.04 meters) tall. Each stalk is covered in numerous small, five-petaled flowers.  The flowers are typically bright yellow, though some species may have white, pink, or purple flowers. Flowers bloom a few at a time in late spring or through summer. Historically, mullein stalks were dipped in tallow or wax and used as torches due to their long, straight form and slow-burning qualities. 

Plants produce tiny seeds that require light to germinate. Seeds can live for a very long time in the earth then germinate when the earth is disturbed and the seeds are exposed to light.

Mullein has been used in traditional medicine for centuries, particularly for respiratory issues. It has also been used as an anti-inflammatory and for topical pain relief. Flowers and leaves have also been used to produce yellow or green dyes.

Mullein is native to Europe, North Africa, and Asia, though it has spread to many other parts of the world.

Mullein is symbolic of our journeys of moving through darkness to reach light. Mullein's taproot enables the plant to live in dry and rocky soils.  Sometimes we too need to live in areas that are challenging, and the plant's taproot symbolizes that we can be grounded even as we move through those challenges. The taproot keeps us deeply rooted in our humanity as we move away from the undesirable toward that which brightens our souls. 

The journey through darkness can be where one travels to a more open level of spirituality, towards a more comfortable level of health, towards greater financial stability or towards other aspects that make life more fulfilling or comfortable. If this is your path, you can use the image of Mullein being used as a torch that lights your way, that illuminates the path before you and helps you to see it clearly. If you are drawn to Mullein, know that even if you are in a difficult situation that needs improvement, the path before you is well lit. Your job is to take the needed steps along that path.   

Mullein types include: 

Great Mullein (Verbascum thapsus): This is the most well-known species, often found in North America, is identified by its tall flowering spike and densely hairy leaves. Also known as Common Mullein, Flannel Plant or Wooly Mullein.

Moth Mullein (Verbascum blattaria): A shorter species with white or yellow flowers, commonly found in disturbed areas.

Purple Mullein (Verbascum phoeniceum): Known for its attractive purple flowers, this species is often grown in gardens.

 

Lantana

Lantana

Abundance, Knowing (Cognisance)

In tropical and subtropical climates, Lantana is a fast growing perennial. In cooler climates, it is grown as an annual. The plants like sun to part shade and, once established, are heat, salt and drought tolerant.  The plants like well drained soil. 

Lantana grows clusters of small, tubular flowers that are from from 1 to 2 inches across, that may be of different colors, including white, yellow, orange, pink, red, purple or blue. Flowers start with one color hue then gradually transition through a spectrum of colors as they mature. Flowers grown as annuals bloom from April to October. Plants in tropical climates bloom year round. Lantana flowers attract bees, hummingbirds and butterflies. Leaves are deep green and are poisonous to most animals.

Lantana can be propagated from seeds or stem cuttings.  The plants are native to tropical and subtropical areas of North, Central and South America and have have also grown in Africa for hundreds of years. 

Lantana has been used as an herbal medicine for its antimicrobial, fungicidal and insecticidal properties.

Abundance - profusion of flowers throughout the growing season. Lantana is good for people who may have been practicing the concept of lack - that they are not deserving or worthy of all the richness in life or can't afford the lovely things life has to offer. If the richness of life is not flowing to you, meditate on how your beliefs: are you not deserving or worthy? Do you think that being spiritual or creative also means you need to live in poverty? Check to see if your belief system is holding you back from abundance in life. 

Lantana keeps blooming all summer so if you falter in thinking you are not deserving of abundance, the profusion of flowers provides a fresh reminder that abundance is available to you and to everyone at all times. The need to deadhead or prune the flowers to encourage new growth is a reminder to pay attention - keep your focus on abundance, on feeling as if the abundance of life is available to you, and it will continue to flow for and to you. 

Lantana produces nectar in their flowers which attract butterflies and hummingbirds. The butterflies and hummingbirds land and consume nectar, then fly away. Imagine each contact establishing a small thread from flower to another destination, from earth to spirit, from our present consciousness awareness to another dimension. People who experience spiritual knowing have these similar threads from their consciousness to spirit - many, many delicate connections that manifest as a deep trust or knowing. These are the people who came into this life not seeking a connection with light but with their lights already on. If you are one of these people, you'll have deep spiritual awareness as part of your being. While others may have powerful awakening experiences, you will already have a solid base of knowledge of what it means to be spiritual and connected to spiritual realms. So don't be surprised if you experience a small wave of change when others experience a tsunami. 

 

Oleander

Nerium oleander

Aries

Boundaries, Illusion

Oleander are flowering shrubs that grow in warm and subtropical areas. The 5-petal flowers bloom in spring and continue into the fall, growing in clusters of white, yellow, purple, pink or red. In contrast, the pointed leaves are long (up to 7 inches) and narrow (less than 1 inch) and are a deep green. The plants grow from 6 to 12 feet tall and are about the same width. They can grow from 1 to 2 feet a year. Oleander typically grow in mounds but can be trained to grow as trees.

Oleanders like full sun and well-drained soil but will adapt to other soil conditions. Once established, plants tolerate heat, drought, salt spray and wind. Cuttings from Oleander can be grown in water before planting or grown in soil. Oleander can also be grown from seed.

Plants are native to North Africa and the eastern Mediterranean areas. Oleander was introduced to Florida in the 1500s and grows in North American temperate areas. It can be damaged by the cold.

All parts of the plants are toxic to animals and people. Sap from Oleander causes skin irritation. If plants are burned, the smoke is also toxic. 

Oleander flowers have 5 petals. The angelic meaning of the number 5 is that positive life changes are present, and to be optimistic about current conditions to create positive future conditions. 

Oleander's poisonous qualities show you how to set boundaries. You can meditate using the image of Oleander flowers or call on the energy of Oleander if you have the need to set limits on your time, space or resources. It also helps to teach how to set limits on our emotions and how to effectively detangle emotions of others from our happiness.

Oleander shows us the power of illusion. On the surface, Oleander is an ornamental plant that is very tolerant of growing conditions in warm regions. The idea that Oleander is only an ornamental plant is an illusion, as it really is a poisonous plant. It shows us that people can present themselves as "ornamental" when they are really much more complicated. Oleander teaches us to look beyond the face value of a person and beyond what they say (the illusion) to the qualities the person embodies, to their true nature. Conversely, Oleander teaches us about the illusion that life is the whole of our reality, when the universal reality is that we are powerful souls who have a long history and a long, evolving future.  

Oleander has been used for heart conditions, asthma, cancer, and other conditions. It contains chemicals that can slow the heart rate. 

Common names for Oleander include Kaner, Rosebay and Rose Laurel.

 

Evening Primrose

Oenothera biennis

Connection to Spirit, Working with Spiritual Realms

The Evening Primrose originated in North America and grows throughout South America, Europe and some parts of Asia. The plant produces four-petaled flowers that are fragrant. The plant is best known to produce yellow flowers that are 2 inches across. Some plants produce flowers in pink, red, purple and white. Flowers are closed during the day and open at sunset, attracting moths and bats. Before flowers close in the morning, they attract bees, butterflies and birds.

Plants grow from 3 to 5 feet tall and about 2 feet wide. Because they self seed, plants tend to sprawl. Plants grow well in full sun or partial shade and like well drained soil. They are drought tolerant and deer resistant.

Evening Primrose seeds are used to make Evening Primrose oil, which is used for skin conditions, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and menopause symptoms. Native Americans used the plant as a topical skin conditions such as bruises and inflammations. Leaves were ingested for sore throats. 

Flowers are used to make a flower essence that is suggested for use to treat emotions from early childhood. 

Evening Primrose flowers have four petals. The number four is associated with many divine properties: the four elements (air, earth, water and fire) and with the four directions (east, south, west, north). The elements and directions have application in shamanism, the path of direct revelation in the spirit world and way to connect with all of creation. In numerology, the number four is associated with the energy of the Archangels, who work with people continuously through messages, healing and in all things when asked.

Evening Primrose symbolizes working with spiritual realms for healing, providing loving messages from loved ones who have passed (mediumship), providing messages from guides, angels or brothers and sisters of the light (ascended masters) and light councils for messaging (channeling) or healing (Reiki and other hands-on modalities).

Those who identify with the qualities of Evening Primrose are also able to see things in the dark, meaning those places where lower energies reside. Those who work in spiritual realms can call that which is in darkness into the light, to send lower energies to the light or to remove lower energies so that people may live more fully.  

Evening Primrose are primarily or most commonly yellow.  Yellow symbolizes joy, and those who connect to spirit and who work with the spiritual realms experience the joy that spirit brings to all of us. 

The Evening Primrose Flower has also been called Common Evening Primrose, Evening Star, Sun Drop, Fever Plant, Hog Weed, King’s Cure-all or Cure All.  

Forget-Me-Not

Myosotis sylvatica 

Taurus

Angel energy, Angel symbolism

Forget-Me-Not is a flowering perennial plant that typically grows up to 5 inches in height with some varieties growing up to 1 foot tall. Plants bloom in spring or summer with clusters of small (3/8 inch across) blue flowers with five petals that have yellow centers. Some varieties of Forget-Me-Nots have white, yellow or pink flowers. The small flowers attract bees, butterflies and moths. 

Forget-Me-Not can be grown easily from seed and reseeds on its own. After one year, plants reach maturity and flower. Plants are easy to maintain; they like sun and part shade and tolerate heat and cold as well as wet soil. Plants are rabbit and deer tolerant. 

Plants are native to Europe and now grow in temperate areas all over the world. The Latin name Myosotis is from the Greek words mus and ous, meaning mouse ear. The plants have short pointed leaves that are similar to mouse ears. 

Forget-Me-Nots grow on riverbanks and in damp ditches, in meadows, in the woods, in rocky places in the mountains. Alpine Forget-Me-Not (Myosotis alpestris) - the official flower of Alaska, and Mountain Forget-Me-Not (Myosotis asiatica) grow at higher elevations in moist mountainous areas.

Forget-Me-Nots present us with a combination of very common and very unique characteristics.  Common attributes include being easily grown from seeds and easily reseeding itself. Also, plants are not particular about their growing conditions.

The flowers are fragrant in the evening and night, and are not fragrant during the day. Another unique characteristics is that the plants have true blue flowers. Less than 20 percent of plants have blue flowers. Blue is symbolic of the color of Archangel Michael, who brings us his energy, support and protection.

Flowers have five petals that surround a yellow center. The angelic meaning of the number 5 is that angels are bringing you messages, often of life changes. You can reflect on Forget-Me-Not flowers when you are in times of personal and professional change to encourage inspiration on the direction of your choices.

Forget-Me-Nots regenerate themselves, creating a continuous cycle of birth. Angel energy also is forever continuous and regenerates endlessly, being activated from the angelic realm or from our requests. 

If you have made a request that involves angels working on your behalf or for someone you care for, and you see Forget-Me-Nots, you will know that the angels have heard your message and a plan is in place for everyone's highest good.

Historically, myths were told about the flowers in relationship to a person "not forgetting" something or someone. Forget-Me-Not is used currently in association with remembering in many marketing ventures.