Tuesday, June 06, 2006

forget-me-not


I have always loved these little flowers. Even when I wasn't "into" flowers, which now seems unimaginable, I knew what these were and loved them. Perhaps it was the simplicity--this is the typical flower form a 5 year old might draw--or the sky blue that is not often seen in the flower world.

This species, genus Myosotis, is not native here, but it has naturalized along some lake and river banks. I'm not hearing anyone clamoring to exterminate it as an invasive, however, and I'm not going to lead the cause. I have had some success growing it in rock gardens before, and if I remember in a few weeks I will return to this riverbank for some seeds.

8 comments:

R.Powers said...

Very pretty. Reminds me of our blue-eyed grass.

arcolaura said...

To me it looks very similar to a Lappula or Hackelia (two genera that I don't distinguish without a flora handy). I am told that Myosotis has been found in Saskatchewan (introduced) but only rarely.

arcolaura said...

Does it have burs?

Deb said...

FC- we have blue eyed grass here too, mostly on the sand plain areas.

Laura- I can't find those two genera in my Peterson's wildflower guide, which is by no means complete. The seeds of this plant are definitely bur-like.
By the way, I talked with Fred via email today. I guess there won't be a new Whistlepigs album yet when they play at Forget. Recording's been pushed back until September. If only all these band members didn't have day jobs and lives...

Endment said...

Lovely - (even if it does have burrs) I like plants that naturalize especially when they are as beautiful as these!

Susan Gets Native said...

I know of a lovely story about forget-me-nots. In Nazi Germany, Masons wore forget-me-not pins on their lapels to identify each other without getting picked up by the SS.
A big deal for such a little flower.
And blue is definitely an under-represented color in flowers!

Deb said...

Endment- yes, I have always thought these are lovely.

Susan- What a great story! I wonder if that isn't part of the "forget-me-not" name. A legend bigger than the flower itself.

Anonymous said...

Really beautiful shot of lovely flowers. I always enjoy reading your posts, so interesting!