Lilac

Syringa vulgaris

Lilac

Gemini

Far Sight, Clarity

Lilac, also called Common Lilac, is a flowering shrub that produces strong-scented purple flowers and  grows 12 to 15 feet tall and 10 to 12 feet wide. Lilacs are easy to grow and are hardy.  The flowers are very fragrant and attract butterflies.  Lilac shrubs do not like to be in standing water, and will not bloom when consistently wet. Most lilacs have purple blooms; some varieties bloom in many shades of purple and in pink and white.

Lilacs height is symbolic of reaching for the sky or reaching for other realms. This lends those who enjoy the sight and smell of Lilac clear vision.Those who use Lilac energy can often understand the meaning of what someone is saying, and at the same time, use far sight and clarity to understand the meaning behind the meaning, or the truth at the core of a matter. Far sight and clarity are both attributes that can be developed with intention and practice.  Those with a true affinity to lilac are usually those who had those abilities at birth and who have learned to use them in their relationships and in the business world.

Lilacs attract butterflies and hummingbirds. People who are attracted to Lilac and have clarity in their lives attract others who either have the same or who like that trait and want to develop it. These people make good teachers in all areas.

Although lilacs grow profusely in Europe and North America, they originated in Eastern Europe and Asia.

Mature lilacs, those that grow to about 8 feet, can be pruned after they flower. At this time, dead branches can be removed and the plant pruned for shape and size.This is a good approach to our lives also - to remove that which is no longer useful or serving us, such as an old habit, and setting intentions to bring a new "shape and size" into our lives, whether physically (our bodies, homes or  surroundings), mentally, emotionally or spiritually. Lilac provides the clarity to determine what new aspects will serve us best at this time.

Phlox

Phlox

Creeping Phlox

Sagittarius

Simplicity, Intensity

Phlox is the name for many types of primarily perennial plants with showy flowers native to eastern and central North America. Phlox has star shaped flowers in white, blue, purple, pink and red. Some varieties are low growing ground cover with other varieties growing up to 8 feet. Full sun is best for growing and flowering but Phlox also does well in part sun and shade. It likes well drained soil. Once established, Phlox is drought tolerant.

Phlox bring to us the energy of simplicity. It grows as ground cover and as a taller plant, it likes sun yet grows in part shade, it is easy to propagate using a variety of methods and it is very hardy. Know that simplicity is a very desirable energy - it means that an approach or solution can be uncluttered and move directly to a goal.

Phlox star shaped flowers are five fused petals, bringing in the energy of the number five.  In numerology, five brings in the energy of positive life choices and positive life changes. Combine this energy with the aspect of simplicity Phlox brings in to know that your desires have been heard and understood and your role is to relax and allow positive changes to evolve into your life.  

Phlox, in Latin, is derived from "flame," describing the density of color when blooming in spring.  From this flame, or intensity of color, comes the attribute of intensity. The meaning of the word used here refers to focus, where one can use the attribute as a positive aspect to solve a problem, think around or through an issue or to plan out the steps involved in accomplishing a complex goal. It involves focus on one area and excluding focus on others until one's goal is accomplished. 

The flowers attract birds and butterflies. In areas with year round warm climates, Phlox will continue to grow.  In cold climates, Phlox will become dormant. In good growing conditions, Phlox will grow for decades, bring us the additional energy of longevity.


Once established, usually after two years, Phlox can be divided.  It can also be propagated with seeds and stem cuttings taken in early summer. The many methods of propagation, and the ease with which Phlox can be grown by being divided, as well as the ability of Phlox to grow in many kinds of soil also bring through the energy of simplicity.

• Creeping Phlox, Moss Phlox, Mountain Phlox, Moss Pink (Phlox subulata) is commonly used as a ground cover growing up to 6 inches tall and spreading up to 2 feet wide.  It blooms in spring with tiny pink flowers that are often very fragrant.  Low growing Phlox will grow in poor and rocky soil.
• Drummond's Phlox (Phlox drummondii) is an annual that grows to a medium height - up to two feet tall.  
• Summer Phlox, Garden Phlox, Fall Phlox, Perennial Phlox (Phlox paniculata) grows in clumps up to 5 feet tall and blooms in mid- to late summer.  Flowers are primarily pink, purple or white. Leaves are ovals, from 4 to 7 inches long. The plant has been widely used as a medicinal herb.  The whole plant can be made into a tea to treat stomach issues. It has also been used to treat skin conditions.

Milkweed

Asclepias

Butterfly Milkweed

Scorpio

Creation, Power

Milkweed is a perennial plant that has small, star shaped flowers that grow in clusters. Bloom time for most varieties is from late spring through summer and flowers can be pink, purple or orange. The plants grow from two to five feet and most varieties of this plant produce seed pods in the fall that split open to spread many seeds. Bees, butterflies and hummingbirds love Milkweed. The plant and flowers bring the vibrations of creation and sustainability. 

Milkweed is not a weed, showing us that everything is not always as it seems. The milky sap that the Milkweed produces is toxic to people, pets and livestock if eaten in large quantities, although most animals do not like the taste of the sap or plant.

Monarch butterflies lay their eggs only on the Milkweed plant and Monarch caterpillars only eat the Milkweed plant.  The eggs are laid on the underside of the leaves. If they lay their eggs on any other type of plant they will not have a food source and will die. Milkweed, along with Monarch butterflies, bring to us the energies found along a direct path of creation from plant to egg to caterpillar to butterfly. It shows us the beauty that can be created by a simple yet dependent process in nature. These energies can also be called upon to assist us with transformations of all kinds, for example with taking a concept and creating a product or service.  It can also be called upon by those who are undergoing metamorphosis by making large changes in their lives, such as major career changes, moving from one location to another or changing family status through marriage, divorce, children, grown children becoming independent, becoming grandparents or retirement.

The dependency of the Monarch butterfly on Milkweed is symbolic of the relationship of soul to person - humans are born from the soul or creator or God and remain intertwined and dependent on this relationship throughout their lives.  Being aware of this connection allows people not only to live but to thrive. If you resonate with Milkweed plant or flowers, you were likely born with a level of intuition or knowing that is more developed than others. While some may seek out psychics to see into the unknown or seek to learn to connect with spirit, you walked into this lifetime with these abilities.  Know and trust your own inclinations and know and trust the signs you receive and other synchronicities in your life are there to support you and move you forward on your path.

The relationship with the Monarch butterfly is also symbolic of the ability to take flight or to journey from one realm to another. It can help us see from the physical to the spiritual, or through the physical to the truth of a matter. The image of a butterfly emerging from a cocoon to butterfly to flight can be used as a jumping off point in your imagination to journey into other realms.

The different types of Milkweed common in the United States require different soil and growing conditions.

• Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) likes average soil.
• Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) likes hot conditions and will only grow as a perennial with warm weather.
• Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) likes dry conditions.
• Whorled Milkweed or White Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata) grow best in dry conditions, in sun to part shade, and tolerates poor soil.  It produces clusters of up to 20 white flowers near the top of each plant, has skinny leaves and grows from 1 to 3 feet tall. This variety reproduces by sprouting from underground stems called rhizomes.
• Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) prefers wet conditions, grows up to 5 feet and blooms in July and August.

Native cultures in the United States and Canada have used Milkweed for rope fiber, food and as a natural remedy.

Lily of the Valley

Convallaria majalis

Gemini

Celebration, Connection with Spirit

Lily of the Valley plants and flowers bring to us the celebration of life.  The small fragrant white flowers are bell shaped, symbolic of bells that ring in honor of festivals and celebrations. The flowers are also symbolic of church bells, and when lily of the valley is incorporated in weddings or other church-related celebrations, can bring additional fun to the events.

Lily of the Valley likes shade and moist soil and is a perennial plant in temperate zones in North America, Europe and Asia.  The plant likes cool winters when it becomes dormant.  In comparison to the small groups of white flowers, the green leaves are from 3 to 5 inches wide and up to 8 inches high. When the flowers are pollinated, they produce a red berry containing up to six seeds.

Lily of the Valley blooms in spring for three to four weeks and is the birth flower for the month of May. The flowers are fragrant and have been used to make perfume and skin care products. showing us the sweetness in life.  As an essential oil, it is used to uplift emotions. The scent of the flower can be used to enhance and uplift your vibration and to help you connect more securely and fully with your higher self, angels and the world of spirit.

The plants spread to fill any available land. It reproduces by sprouting from underground stems called rhizomes.  Once established, it may be very difficult to remove from landscaping.  This aspect of the plant is worth consideration: how are you at setting boundaries?  Setting your personal boundaries is very healthy, both so that you can live and act according to your ethics and beliefs and so that you don't allow others to either overrun your beliefs or fall short of them.    

Lily of the Valley leaves and flowers have been used as an herbal remedy for hundreds of years to help regulate the heart and to help with high blood pressure. This should be done by an experienced herbalist; all parts of the plant are also poisonous if eaten.

Lily of the Valley is also called Mary's Tears, from the concept that the plant grew from where Mary cried at the death of Jesus, May Bells, Jacob's Ladder, and Ladder to Heaven.

Pansy

Pansy

Viola tricolor hortensis

Capricorn

Thoughtfulness, Winter

Pansies are colorful flowers grown as annuals in most regions. Pansies are cold hardy plants that can survive a frost.  This plant doesn't like intense summer heat which can inhibit flower production.  Many of the hundreds of types of pansies have heart shaped flowers and come in many colors including white, yellow, red, orange, purple, violet, brown and blue. Some are two colors. The flowers are formed with five petals and are fragrant.  Both the leaves and flowers are edible. Many varieties are biennials with a two year cycle; the first year flowers bloom and the following year(s) the stems become long and not as hardy.

Pansies are similar to violets - both belong to the genus Viola.  

Pansies like well-drained, rich soil full of organic matter and grow best in full sun to partial shade.  Plants spread up to 12 inches and grow to 9 inches in height. Pansies attract butterflies which bring in the energies of metamorphosis and personal transformation.

Pansy is from the French word pensée which means "thought." Pansies bring to us and bring out in us thoughtfulness.  What does this look like?  Are you thoughtful or are you seeing pansies everywhere as a reminder that thoughtfulness on your part would bring great joy to you and others around you?  Do you need to be thoughtful about where you are and where you are going?  You can use the energies pansy brings to us to aid in thinking through complex issues and to identify goals and to work through the steps you need to accomplish a goal. Remember to be gentle with yourself and that simple steps can solve a complex problem.

Some varieties have markings that look like the flowers have "faces." This prompts us to ask what face are we choosing to wear today? A face that looks pleased with the day will bring back people who are also pleased with the day.  As you wake each day, you have the option of deciding what face you'd like to wear. 

This flower also symbolizes those of us who love the cold, who thrive in cold weather and can be comfortable in less cold weather clothing than most others.  These are the people who tolerate summer but are happiest in fall and winter and the coolness it brings. 

Snowdrops

Galanthus nivalis

Aquarius

Strength, Determination, Accomplishment

Snowdrops are one of the first flowers to appear in spring, often pushing up through snow, bringing us the aspects of determination and strength. The plants grow from bulbs and thrive in regions with cold and moderate winters.The flowers are fragrant, white bell-shaped blossoms. Different varieties grow from 6 to 12 inches tall. 

Snowdrops are not attractive to deer and small animals and are poisonous to cats and dogs. Snowdrops are native to Europe and the Middle East and now also grow in North America. These plants do very well left alone, although they can be divided as they spread.

Snowdrops will multiply with offsets - bulbs that grow from the mother bulb. Even when dormant, snowdrops like shade. Snowdrops symbolize strength of character that doesn't need to be in the limelight to thrive. Think of snowdrops when you know where you are going and need to joyfully focus on accomplishing tasks to move a project forward to completion. You may look at those who need to have the spotlight focused on them to acknowledge accomplishments but know that your accomplishments are recognized by others and that you are living and working from the very steady platform of self awareness that is more significant because it comes from within rather than others. Like the first signs of spring, you are welcomed by others for yourself and your accomplishments.

Orchid

Orchidaceae

Aquarius

Bold, Colorful

Orchid is all about being bold and exotically colorful.  Orchids are found in bold splashes of all colors, including blue tones, and are are considered exotic due to the variety of species, colors and tropical growing conditions. Orchids are perennials and most are native to the tropics but have been adapted to grow in almost any soil in almost any climate.

Orchids can be epiphytic (growing on other plants, usually trees), terrestrial (growing on the ground), or lithophytic (growing on rocks). Epiphytic orchids, which are most common in cultivation, have aerial roots that absorb moisture and nutrients from the air. 

Orchids generally prefer bright, indirect light and warm, high humidity environments. 

Orchids are grown in almost all colors showing us that the aspects of being exotically colorful are not limited to a type or group of people or location but are available to everyone at all times. To bring in this energy, you may want to contemplate the orchid in your favorite color or to bring plants into your home of a specific color.  The more you focus on the color and on the feeling of being exotically colorful the faster those aspects will manifest in your life.

All plants in the orchid family have the same flower structure: an orchid flower has three sepals and three petals. Sepals are the outermost part of the flower and provide support for the flower petals. The orchid is symbolic of a trinity within a trinity - lending a pure, spiritual aspect to the bold and colorful aspects of life.  Know that the bold and colorful parts of your life are fully supported and you should embrace them joyfully.  The sepals also show us that we are fully supported in our colorful endeavors  and need to feel free to move forward in these areas without reservation.

Orchids need a minimum amount of care: place in diffused light, such as behind another leafy plant,  and water weekly.  Orchid shows us the meaning of being mindful of our skills and abilities but to not be too fussy about details.