Gladiolus. Gladioli?

The flower of August, my birth month.

I couldn't pass up these bulbs on clearance when we shopping at McTighes this past Spring.

Here are some interesting gladiolus facts:

• An ancient name for the gladiolus was xiphium, from the Greek word xiphos, also meaning sword.
• Gladiolus represented the Roman Gladiators, before the African Gladioli became popular in the West.
• African Gladioli were imported in large quantities to Europe from South Africa during the 18th century.
• Most of the more than 10,000 named Gladioli cultivars probably were derived from just seven species native to South Africa and first brought to European gardens in the late 17th century.
• The Mediterranean and British Gladiolus flowers were used to treat physical ailments.
• Some parts of the Gladiolus plant are poisonous if ingested and handling some species may cause skin irritation or allergic reactions.