Narcissus: The December Birth Flower

It's no wonder the narcissus was chosen as the birth flower for those born in December. The beautiful, almost iridescent blooms are reminiscent of a winter snowfall, and begin poking through the soil here as November wanes. Right now, the narcissus in my yard are bursting into bloom, putting on a display of delicate white flowers atop a pedestal of thick green leaves that provide a beautiful contrast.

While the mythic Narcissus fell in love with his own beauty and came to an unpleasant end (and legend says was turned into the narcissus plant we love so well), the narcissus flower now represents respect, modesty and faithfulness. In the Victorian era, it was given to a lover with the message "You are the only one." Photo by Wikipedia Commons