Geraniums, a birthday flower of April 3rd

There are at least four different birthday flowers for April 3rd, including the yellow daffodil which is detailed in my previous post. The other three are Adiantum, China Aster and Geraniums. In the photo in this post, Geraniums are the red flower (the other flower is hydrangea). Geraniums are also a birthday flower of April 24th, May 26th, June 28th, July 27th and August 11th.

Geraniums (ゼラニウム), known in Japanese as tenjiku‑aoi, are one of Japan’s most familiar and enduring garden flowers, blooming generously from March to November and appearing in shops almost year‑round. Their vivid colors - red, pink, white, yellow, and deep scarlet - bring brightness to balconies, windowsills, and small urban gardens, where their sturdy stems and rounded leaves thrive even in strong sun. 

In Japanese hanakotoba, geraniums carry the dignified meanings of “respect,” “trust,” and “true friendship,” making them flowers that quietly express sincerity and long‑lasting bonds. Each color adds its own nuance: red symbolizes happiness brought by a loved one, pink conveys determination, white hints at emotional distance, yellow suggests an unexpected meeting, and scarlet evokes a gentle melancholy.