In Victorian times, certain flowers had specific meanings because the flower selection was limited and people used more symbols and gestures to communicate than words. But today, with so many flower choices, there are no rules - it's the sentiment that gives the gift its meaning. Many people assign their own personal meanings - a flower or color that might remind them of a special event or moment in their lives.

So, in honor of the August Flower-The Gladiolus- here is a more in depth description of its meaning:

 Gladiolus Flowers

Common names: gladiolus, glad, gladioli
Description: Tall, tightly packed spikes of six to eight blossoms open in sequence from the bottom. The 2- to 8-inch-wide florets bloom in one direction with sword shaped foliage on stems. Gladioli lend itself to almost any type of style from the use of a full stem to provide height to a tall arrangement or individual florets for corsage and wedding work. Gladiolus last seven to 10 days and are available in a wide variety of colors including white, green, cream, yellow, buff, orange, salmon, pink, red, lavender, purple, blue and terra cotta.
Meaning: Strength of Character