White Water Lily, a birthday flower of April 27th

Although not in bloom currently, the white-water lily is one of the birthday flowers of April 27th annually. I took the photo in this post at the end of May. Typically, they bloom from May to October, with their peak season in July. 

The white-water lily is one of Japan's most serene summer flowers, opening its petals in the morning light and closing them again at dusk. In the Japanese language of flowers, water lilies represent a "pure heart" (清純な心), "trust" (信頼) and "faith" ( 信仰). Meanings that reflect both its quiet beauty and long symbolic history. Generally, in the language of flowers, white blossoms often represent purity and many wild water lilies in Japan naturally bloom in white, reinforcing this association.

Water lilies are the birthday flower of July 7th and July 24th, but the white birthday flower only appears on the flower birthday calendar once. The yellow water lily also only features once, on May 8th annually.