The LUPINE… both an ornamental garden plant and wild one too, the Lupine has an interesting name origin.   Lupine derives from the Latin lupinis or lupinum, meaning to have the nature of a wolf.  The Lupine has been called the wolf bean because wolves consume them, but the wolf reference may also come from the fact the Lupine ravages the [...]

The IRIS… in Greek mythology, Iris is the goddess who acts as a messenger of the Gods, appearing to mortals in the form of a rainbow.  The Iris’s wide spectrum of colors lends itself perfectly to its namesake. The Iris symbolizes great faith, wisdom, hope, love and cherished friendship.  Poets, kings and artists have been admirers of the exotic Iris [...]

The DAISY… some derivatives of the Daisy are Dayes-eze, Daysie, Dayesye and the total giveaway to the Daisy’s meaning, Days-eye. Days-eye means, simply, day’s eye or eye of the day, in allusion to the appearance of the yellow center disc in the morning and the closing of the rays in the evening. The Daisy is the eye of the day! [...]

The MARIGOLD… with reference to Mary, the Virgin Mother, the English derivative of Marigold is a combination of Mary + Gold (for the Marigold’s golden/yellow color) and is known as  Mary’s Flower.  Its association with the Virgin Mary has made the Marigold a flower of good blessings, often used in weddings, festivals and religious celebrations. The Marigold has world wide [...]

The GERANIUM…  derived from the Greek word geranós, meaning crane, the Geranium’s fruit capsule is thought to resemble a crane’s bill.  It’s been noted that the Geranium’s fruit is comprised of 5 grains and beaked. The Geranium has lots of interesting nicknames, including Pinke Needle and Stork’s Bill along with the more common Crane’s Bill. For centuries, the *Geranium, with [...]

The VIOLA… delicately heart-shaped and beautifully colored in yellows, whites, blues, lavenders, creams and glorious bi-colors, the Viola is more than just a lovely face. The Viola has been used for centuries for medicinal purposes, in the production of herbal teas, as a source of perfume, for garnishing salads and desserts, and for crystallizing for elegant-candied culinary presentation. Phew! The [...]

The LOBELIA enirus… with its masses of lovely, delicate fan-shaped flowers, it is almost impossible to believe that the Lobelia species is known for its ill will and malevolence. How can this be? The common herb Lobelia inflata, with its similarities to nicotine, make any internal use very dangerous.  Children, pregnant women and people with cardiac conditions are particularly susceptible [...]

The DIANTHUS… the name derived from the Greek word for Jupiter Flower, or Flower of the Gods, the Dianthus is commonly known to gardeners as the species of Sweet William, Maiden Pink, Pinks or Carnation, although there are more than 300 species in the Dianthus genus. The Dianthus is a delightful and welcomed flower in gardens for its colors and [...]

The STRAWBERRY BLOSSOM… each Strawberry comes from a lovely Strawberry Blossom,  and the process from bloom-to-berry is like a tiny little miracle. Strawberry Blossoms are not all identical, but they are similar.  Most are 5-8 petaled and white… but hybrid Strawberry Blossoms may be pink or other colors, too.   The main business of the Strawberry Blossom is to form [...]

The BLUEBERRY BLOSSOM… before the Blueberry becomes a berry, it first is a Blueberry Blossom.  Delicately bell-shaped, the Blueberry Blossom is primarily white, but can be pinkish or even tinted green.  The Blossom of the Blueberry is held in high esteem in the world of folklore.  In Native American tradition, the Blueberry Blossom, shaped as a 5-point star, was believed [...]