Daisies are the birthday flower for the month of April.  The cheerful colorful daisy symbolizes childhood innocence, simplicity and joy, which makes them a wonderful addition to your garden.  Daisies are cousins to sunflowers which are also popular for gardening.  Gerbera daisies (or gerberas) are the most popular daisies and their large blooms can be found in a rainbow of bright colors, including pink, white, yellow, orange, cream, red and violet. The center of the flower can be almost any color and often a single flower will have petals of many different colors.  The gerbera is still the fifth most popular flower in the world behind the rose, carnation, chrysanthemum, and tulip.  It is believed that the name "daisy" is a variation of "day's eye" because the whole flower head closes up at night and opens up again in the morning light.  Daisies also symbolize good luck and new beginnings.  

 

Fun Facts about Daisies:

 

Daisies are often depicted in meadows ("flowery meads") in medieval paintings.

Daisies are believed to be more than 4,000 years old.

Hairpins decorated with daisies were found during the excavation of the Minoan Palace on the Island of Crete.

Egyptian ceramics decorated with daisies date back to ancient times.

Some people believed that daisies kept away lightening, which is why they were often grown indoors.

Daisies are also known in England as "bruisewort" because their crushed leaves can sooth bruised or chapped skin.

Daisy leaves are edible and made a delicious addition to salads.

 

April showers might bring May flowers, but happily for everyone born in April, they also bring us the delightful daisy.

 

Photo by Katie Hanlon