The Annual Delphinium is one of the best known annuals, bearing long, lovely colored flowers and lacy foliage. 

The genus of larkspur was recently changed from Delphinium to Consolida . Two species of larkspur are used for cut flowers: Consolida ambigua and Consolida orientalis. C. orientalis is more upright than C. ambigua , and colours are often shades of bright pink and purple. C. ambigua have more branches initially and colors are usually light pink or blue. 

In Greek mythology larkspur flowers are said to have sprang from the blood of Ajax. Those crazy ancient Greeks and their bloodshed sprouting flowers, animals, and people...

When Achilles was killed, his armor was supposed to be given to the most heroic of the Greeks who remained alive. The two candidates for this reward were Odysseus and Ajax. Let the competition begin!

Minerva swung the vote to Odysseus since she felt heroes should mix intelligence with bravery... and Ajax was not very sharp. Poor thing. The dishonor drove Ajax mad and he began killing a herd of sheep believing them to be his rivals. Way to prove a point, man. When he realized what he had done, Ajax felt the honorable thing to do was to kill himself~ and so he impaled himself on his sword. Sheesh, temper, temper.  Where his blood fell, larkspurs grew. On their petals, one can find the Greek letters AI, which is the Greek cry of mourning. 

It was once used to heal wounds in the field, to kill parasites. Another name for it is "knight's spur." Larkspur is also said to keep away scorpions and venomous snakes as well as more ethereal threats, like ghosts. (Well, it would have to with crazy, not so smart spirits like Ajax floating around.)

Larkspur is lovely, and it is nice mixed with other Summer Solstice herbs such as lavender, cinquefoil, mugwort, roses, elder, fennel, vervain.

If you send larkspur to someone, you are sending a message that you value laughter and purity of heart...

and ewe better watch what you say.