The Birthflower for June

The rose is the birthflower for June. The rose has a lengthy history and it all started when Chinese and Greek gardens dating back to 500 BC started growing roses. Early roses from these gardens were very likely wild species although there is evidence that selected varieties were also being grown in early gardens. The China rose was believed to have been cultivated as far back as the first millennium AD.

Early civilizations of temperate latitudes were believed to be growing roses as far back as 5,000 years ago. They were also believed to have been grown in ancient Babylon and paintings discovered in Egyptian pyramid tombs from the 14th century BC had paintings with roses depicted in the artwork.

In Europe, the breeding of roses started in the 17th century. This breeding created new species aiding in encouraging more and more cultivation. The China rose was introduced in Europe in the 19th century, which led to an explosion of breeding.

There are many legends involving the rose. Including one that states Cupid, the son of Venus, shot arrows accidentally into a rose garden when he was stung by a bee. The resulting ‘sting’ from the arrows is what gave the flower its thorns. It is said that when Venus pricked her foot on a thorn while walking in the garden, blood droplets from her wound are what gave the red rose its color.

A Roman myth tells of the beautiful maiden Rhodanthe who attracted many suitors. In an attempt to hide from them, she went to the temple of her friend Diana. Then Diana became jealous of the attention directed at Rhodanthe and turned the maiden into a rose and her suitors became thorns.

Hidden messages of roses include “I Love You” (red), “I Am Worthy Of You” (white), “You Are My Secret Love” (orange), “You Are Heavenly” (white), “I Am Not Worthy Of Your Love” (yellow), “We Are Inseparable” (white and red) and “Please Believe Me” (pink).