August is bursting with sunshine, bright colors and plenty of reasons to celebrate! It’s only fitting that the month’s birth flowers—the gladiolus and poppy—are just as full of personality. Together, these beautiful blooms represent strength, integrity, remembrance and resilience.

Gladiolus: Strong, Striking and Full of Meaning

It’s easy to see why glads stand out in a bouquet. With tall stems lined with colorful blooms, they add height, movement and a little extra drama to an arrangement. We love using them to create designs that feel bright, cheerful and full of life!

The full name gladiolus comes from the Latin word gladius, meaning “sword,” and refers to the flower’s long, pointed leaves. This is also how glads earned the nickname “sword lily.” Their strong, upright appearance has made them a symbol of strength, victory and moral integrity—the perfect flower for someone who leads with courage and stays true to themselves.

Glads also have a romantic side! During the Victorian era, giving someone gladiolus meant the recipient had “pierced the giver’s heart with love.” Today, they can still represent admiration, affection and infatuation.

What Do Glad Colors Mean?

Glads come in a wonderful variety of colors, and each one can add its own special message:

• Red represents love and passion.
• Yellow symbolizes happiness, friendship and encouragement.
• Pink expresses compassion, tenderness and a mother’s love.
• White represents purity, innocence and sincerity.
• Purple symbolizes grace, beauty and admiration.

Whether you select a color for its symbolism or simply because it makes you smile, glads are a lovely way to send a meaningful message.

Poppies: Remembrance, Imagination and Resilience

Poppies may look delicate, but they carry plenty of powerful meaning. They are best known as symbols of remembrance, especially when honoring those who have passed away or those who lost their lives during times of war.

Poppies are also connected to sleep, dreams and imagination. In ancient stories and mythology, they were associated with rest and peace, giving these colorful flowers a lovely connection to creativity and the dream world.

Because poppies can grow in disturbed soil and challenging conditions, they have also become symbols of resilience. They’re a beautiful reminder that even after difficult seasons, something lovely can still grow.

Three Fun Facts About August’s Birth Flowers

• Glads belong to the iris family, despite their “sword lily” nickname.
• Glad blooms generally open from the bottom of the stem upward, allowing their colorful display to unfold over time.
• Gladiolus was the winning word at the very first National Spelling Bee in the United States in 1925!

Celebrate an August Birthday with Glads

With their beautiful colors, tall stems and cheerful personality, glads make a wonderful addition to an August birthday arrangement. Their message of strength and admiration also makes them a meaningful choice for celebrating someone special.

Visit our website to order a Designer’s Choice bouquet and let us know you’d like glads included. When they’re available, our talented designers can incorporate them into a one-of-a-kind arrangement filled with fresh seasonal flowers and designed especially for your recipient.

July in Indiana brings sunshine, summer gatherings, backyard celebrations, and plenty of reasons to send something beautiful. It is also the perfect time to celebrate July birthdays with their official birth month flowers: larkspur and water lily.

These two blooms may look very different, but they both carry lovely meanings and plenty of fascinating history. Whether you are sending birthday wishes, celebrating a summer milestone, or simply brightening someone’s day, July’s birth flowers offer a beautiful way to make your gift feel personal and thoughtful.

First Up: Lovely Larkspur

Larkspur, also commonly known as delphinium, is a tall and graceful flower known for its beautiful clusters of blooms. You will often see larkspur in shades of blue, lavender, purple, pink, and white, making it a wonderful choice for adding height, color, and movement to floral arrangements.

Its name is said to come from the flower’s resemblance to a meadowlark’s claw, which is why it has also been called Lark’s Claw, Knight’s Spur, and Lark’s Heel.

Larkspur is often associated with positivity, dedication, an open heart, and lightness. That makes it a meaningful choice for July birthdays, cheerful celebrations, and heartfelt “thinking of you” gifts.

One important note: as beautiful as larkspur is, it should not be eaten and can be toxic to people and pets if ingested. Like many fresh flowers, it is best enjoyed in a vase and kept away from curious little hands and paws.

Larkspur Fun Facts

• In Transylvania, larkspur was once planted near stables because people believed it helped protect against witches.
• Native Americans used larkspur blooms to create dyes and repel insects.
• George Washington even mentioned larkspur in his letters.

Next Up: Beautiful Water Lily

July’s secondary birth flower is the graceful water lily. Known for floating peacefully on the surface of ponds and water gardens, the water lily brings a calm, serene beauty to the summer season.

Water lilies are often associated with peace, purity, friendship, wisdom, and new beginnings. Their floating leaves also help shade the water, support aquatic wildlife, and add natural beauty to ponds and garden spaces.

While water lilies are not typically used in everyday floral arrangements the way larkspur and delphinium are, they are still a lovely part of July’s birth flower story and a beautiful symbol for summer birthdays.

Water Lily Trivia

• Claude Monet was famously inspired by the water lilies in his Giverny garden and painted them more than 200 times.
• The International Waterlily and Water Gardening Society was founded in 1984.
• The water lily is the national flower of Bangladesh.

Celebrating July Birthdays with Flowers

There is so much to love about July’s birth flowers. Larkspur brings height, color, and cheerful meaning to fresh arrangements, while water lilies offer a peaceful reminder of beauty, calm, and new beginnings.

If you are celebrating someone with a July birthday, a bouquet featuring larkspur or delphinium is a thoughtful way to make their flowers feel extra personal. You can search for larkspur or delphinium arrangements on our website, request a custom design, or give us a call and let our team help you create something special.

At Gillespie Florists, we love helping you celebrate the people who matter most with flowers that feel meaningful, fresh, and full of heart.

Celebrate July birthdays with larkspur, delphinium, and summer flowers full of cheerful meaning.
Shop birthday flowers from Gillespie Florists today.

As we ease into the new year and settle into winter, it’s the perfect time to revisit one of our favorite traditions—celebrating birth month flowers. January kicks things off with one of the most classic blooms of all: the carnation. Timeless, meaningful, and endlessly versatile, this beloved flower sets a hopeful tone for the year ahead.

What are the January birth flowers?

January is represented by carnations and snowdrops—two very different blooms that share a quiet strength during the coldest time of year.

Carnations are known for their ruffled petals, soft fragrance, and wide range of colors, from whites and pinks to deep reds and purples. Their durability and classic style make them a staple in floral design, appearing in everything from everyday arrangements to weddings, corsages, and boutonnieres.

Snowdrops may be small, but they’re mighty. These delicate white blooms often appear while snow is still on the ground, offering one of the earliest signs that spring is on its way. They’re commonly associated with hope, renewal, and fresh beginnings—perfect symbolism for January.

A little history behind carnations

Carnations have been loved for more than 2,000 years, dating back to ancient Greece and Rome. Their name, Dianthus, means “divine flower,” and over time they’ve become a staple in floral traditions across Europe and Asia.

What do carnations symbolize?

Carnations are often associated with love and affection, with meanings that vary by color:

• Red: Admiration

• Deep Red: Romantic love

• Pink: Gratitude

• White: Purity and friendship

• Yellow: Sorrow

• Purple: Royalty

Their long-lasting nature has also made carnations a symbol of enduring love.

A few fun carnation facts

• The green carnation became a symbol in LGBTQ+ history after Oscar Wilde popularized it in the late 1800s.

• In Victorian times, striped carnations were used to subtly say, “I cannot be with you.”

• The Carnation Revolution in Portugal (1974) turned the flower into a lasting symbol of peace and change.

While the carnation takes center stage as January’s primary birth flower, it’s often paired with the delicate snowdrop. Blooming bravely through snow, snowdrops symbolize hope, renewal, and resilience, offering a quiet reminder that brighter days are ahead—even in the heart of winter. Their calm presence and winter bloom time make them a natural companion to January celebrations.

Fun fact: Snowdrops contain galantamine, a compound still used in modern medicine—connecting this petite bloom to a long history of healing and care.

At Gillespie Florists, we love flowers that tell a story. January’s birth blooms—especially the ever-classic carnation—are a beautiful way to brighten winter days and celebrate the fresh start of a new year. 🌸

Tap here to browse our entire birthday flower collection today!

December babies get a beautiful duo of birth flowers! This month is all about the bright, cheerful Paperwhite Narcissus and the festive, good-luck-bringing Holly. One brings soft winter elegance, the other brings classic holiday charm—and together, they’re the perfect pair to celebrate the season.

And great news: we carry fresh holly right here at Gillespie Florists for arrangements, decorating, gifting, and all your holly-jolly floral needs!

Paperwhite Narcissus

Delicate, fragrant, and absolutely glowing against the winter chill, Paperwhite Narcissus is the daffodil’s winter-loving cousin. While they prefer to stay cozy indoors, their snowy white blooms bring instant brightness to any space.

Symbolism:
Renewal
New Beginnings
Hope
Pure Wishes

Why We Love It: Paperwhites bloom right when we need a little lift—adding soft fragrance and fresh beauty during the darkest days of the year.

Fun Floral Note: They’re known for blooming indoors all winter long, making them a long-time favorite for holiday décor and seasonal gifting.

Holly

Nothing says “December” quite like Holly! With glossy evergreen leaves and bold red berries, this classic winter plant has been spreading good cheer for centuries.

Symbolism:
Protection
Good Fortune
Peace
Happiness

Why We Love It: Holly brings instant festive flair—whether it’s tucked into a wreath, added to an arrangement, or styled on its own.

Fun Floral Note: From ancient solstice celebrations to modern holiday traditions, holly has always been a symbol of light, life, and seasonal joy.

A Perfect Winter Pair

Together, Narcissus and Holly capture everything we love about December: hope, beauty, celebration, and a touch of holiday sparkle. Whether you’re giving a gift to a December birthday, decorating your home, or looking for something meaningful for the season, this duo brings all the winter magic.

Tap here to see our birthday bouquet selections!

November Birth Flowers: Chrysanthemums & Peonies

November brings two beautiful birth flowers that carry rich symbolism and seasonal charm: the cheerful chrysanthemum and the romantic peony. Whether you're celebrating a November birthday or simply love learning the stories behind your favorite blooms, these flowers offer meaning, tradition, and timeless beauty.

Chrysanthemum: November’s Classic Bloom

Chrysanthemums—better known as “mums”—are the official November birth flower and a fall staple in floral design. With their long vase life, wide range of shapes, and vibrant colors, mums bring warmth and brightness to any arrangement.

Symbolism:

• Longevity

• Optimism

• Joy 

Color Meanings:

• Red: Love, passion

• Yellow: Joy, celebration

• White: Honesty, loyalty

• Green: Good luck, renewal

• Purple: Thoughtfulness

• Pink: Friendship, affection

Celebrated across cultures and widely loved in the U.S., chrysanthemums truly earn their nickname: Queen of Fall Flowers.

Peony: November’s Lesser-Known Birth Flower

Peonies may surprise some as a November birth flower, but their beauty and symbolism make them a meaningful choice for November celebrations. With soft, full petals and lush texture, peonies bring elegance to bouquets year-round.

Symbolism:

• Love & affection

• Happiness & prosperity

• Honor

• Happy marriage

• Traditional flower for a 12th anniversary

Color Meanings:

• Red: Passion, respect

• Pink: Romance, beauty, friendship

• White: Gentleness, apologies

• Yellow: Hope, new beginnings

From ancient history to wedding traditions, peonies are cherished for their beauty and heartfelt symbolism. (Pet-safe note: keep peonies away from curious cats and dogs.)

Celebrate With Meaningful Blooms

Whether you choose the bright cheer of chrysanthemums or the soft elegance of peonies, November’s birth flowers make thoughtful gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, and seasonal arrangements. Our designers at Gillespie Florists are always here to help you create something meaningful and memorable.

CLICK HERE TO SHOP BIRTHDAY FLOWERS!

“October sky never looked more charming nor the sublime leaves of the trees so graceful.”
— Avijeet Das

October is the crown jewel of autumn — a season of cozy sweaters, crisp air, and golden light filtering through the trees. As we savor the beauty of falling leaves and the excitement of upcoming holidays, it’s also the perfect time to celebrate October birthdays!

Every month has its signature blooms, and October’s birth flowers are Marigold and Cosmos — two vibrant favorites that capture the essence of fall. Let’s take a closer look at these autumn beauties.

Marigold: A Flame in Bloom

With their fiery orange, yellow, and gold petals, Marigolds practically glow in autumn sunlight. They symbolize creativity, warmth, and determination — fitting traits for those born in October. In some cultures, marigolds are known as “the herb of the sun,” representing light that never fades, even as the days grow shorter.

Marigolds also carry a sense of celebration and remembrance, making them perfect for both joyful birthdays and honoring loved ones during the season’s reflective moments.

Cosmos: The Flower of Harmony

Graceful and delicate, Cosmos offer a softer side of October. Their balanced, symmetrical petals inspired the name “Cosmos,” meaning harmony and order in Greek. These blooms symbolize peace, balance, and love, bringing a touch of calm to autumn’s vibrant energy.

Available in lovely shades of pink, white, and deep burgundy, Cosmos add a light, romantic charm to any bouquet or fall arrangement.

Celebrate October with Gillespie Florists

Together, Marigold and Cosmos represent the perfect balance of boldness and beauty — just like October itself. Whether you’re celebrating a special birthday, decorating your home for fall, or surprising someone “just because,” these blooms are a wonderful way to capture the season’s spirit.

At Gillespie Florists, we love bringing the colors of autumn to life. From cheerful birthday bouquets to lush fall centerpieces, our designers can help you find the perfect arrangement for any occasion.

🍂 Stop by our shop or browse our fall collection online to discover how Marigolds, Cosmos, and other seasonal favorites can make your October even more beautiful.

Birthdays, Christmas, Father's Day...these are the days which can be excruciatingly difficult for those of us who are clueless on the perfect gift for "him". You know who I'm talking about....that important guy or guys in your life.  

The only guy in my life I don't have to melt my brain creatively in the gift department is my dad. Without fail, he is most delighted with sweaters and sweatshirts. He loves receiving these from me to the point where someone compliments him on any sweater, he will say "Kelly bought it for me" when in fact, it's possible one of my other siblings did. After a few incidents they have left the sweater purchasing to me. Gifts for my dad? Done and Done. Everyone else? Oh, the agony. But never fear, I've compiled a list of gift ideas to make your next gift for him a little bit easier! 

1. SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

 

Finding the right gift can be hard to find and if you google "gifts for him" your search is far from over! Is your gift for the great outdoorsman? Sports enthusiast? Geek? So many searches, so little time therefore let's start with a winning list with something for everyone! Dads, brothers, husbands and friends. I love Heavy.com's Top 100 Best Gifts for Men because it's there's a great range in price, lifestyle, age. After scanning the list I was surprised to find quite a few items that I would purchase for the guys in my life! My top three items were the The Official John Wayne Way to Grill (for the foodie); Pyle SoundBox Splash Waterproof Portable Speaker (for the music lover); and the Vivere Double Space Hammock (for the outdoorsman). Great variety and price points for a variety of lifestyles all in one list. BOOM. DONE.

 

 

 

 

2. DIY GIFTS 

 

Let's say DIY is your style! I know it's mine and the very first thing I do is look at my favorite pinterest boards. Sometimes going to the place with a billion pins is overwhelming therefore take a short cut to theartofmanliness.com.  The Art of Manliness list of DIY projects is overflowing with great ideas which you can DIY or give to him as a gift to do! I especially love the altoid tin survival kits and all the ways you can personalize it and the best beef jerky in the world because...beef jerky and I want to make it for myself post-haste! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. FROM THE KIDS

 

My three kiddos always want to take part in gifts for dad! Every once in awhile we carve out a large block of time to work on a special gift! One of our favorites is painting ceramic bowls. Breakfast time is always bonding time with dad so cereal bowls have been a big hit!

 

Not feeling the painting? Try one of these Kid Friendly DIY Gift Ideas from Care.com! From cute candy cards to pretty cool bicycle brake clocks there is something for everyone. I can't say my favorite on this list because it's bound to be a birthday gift pretty soon! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. DON'T FORGET YOUR FRIENDLY LOCAL FLORIST!

 

Of course I'm going to mention Gillespie Florists! Flowers do not seem to be synonymous with gifts for him but have you seen what we can do? Planters or flowers for the home, office, and man cave in fun containers like jeeps, Ford trucks, sports balls and even grills! Snack baskets, gourment food baskets, stones for the garden. Send a "Just Because" surprise bouquet, just because. The kids can join in the fun, walk the red carpet and select flowers for the important guys in their life! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let's bring it back home. I've shared some of my favorite "For Him" lists with you as well as ideas I've personally used! These ideas serve as starting points to get you going in the right direction for the perfect gift for him. Online, hand delivered, DIY, whatever your style; as long as the gift is thoughtful and from the heart, it is sure to be a hit with him.  Happy Gifting!

 

Want to send some love through the language of flowers? Shop some of our favorites now!