Well this is a surprise. We returned from Scotland, and I wandered round the garden checking this and that. Potatoes OK, shallots OK, radishes OK, beans OK, peonies- blooming, viola -2nd blooming [woohoo!!] tomatoes looking sad, herbs thriving, roses budding...so [with the exception of the tomatoes] I was quite happy. Then I noticed a new plant in the front garden, next to the rosemary
I have always said I would like to grown honesty in my garden. But never got round to it - I have no idea where this came from, but I am so happy it is there. I remember the Deputy Head at the first school I taught in, putting a large jug of the silvery white seed heads on the table in the entrance, with a label saying "We need more of this"
This has set me thinking about the virtuous plants in our gardens, and those whose names mean something
HONESTY - know the truth and it shall set you free
SAGE- wisdom is definitely something to aspire to
SAGE- wisdom is definitely something to aspire to
BALM - comfort in times of anxiety
FORGET-ME-NOT - how important to remember others
THYME - not to be wasted!
THRIFT - definitely a virtue we all need these days
I am not sure if my honesty plant will produce those lovely luminescent selenic seed heads, or if they will stay the lilac colour. But I am really excited to watch what happens.
This made me think of that old TV series, "The Herbs" with the aristocratic Sir Basil and Lady Rosemary. And Sage the owl. And Constable Knapweed. I shall have a smile on my face for hours now!
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/5gb1JClFvfo. All I can remember is "I'm Bayleaf, I'm the gardener, I work from early dawn..."
DeleteHow lovely to find a volunteer honesty plant growing in your garden! I have a sage plant but that is about all the plants I have with noble names.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of "volunteer plants"
DeleteThe Honesty would have had either white or purple flowers, the pods are the seeds. When dry you can peel off each side of a pod and the silvery ‘leaf’ will be revealed. There will be seeds in the pod that you can sow for next year, it’s biannual. Sandra.
ReplyDeleteOh thank you Sandra, this is really useful information! Maybe I can cultivate another plant for somewhere else in the garden too!
DeleteHave tried umpteen times to grow Honesty from seed with no success - don't know what this means!!
ReplyDeleteI am gradually learning that gardening is a very random thing. Even Monty Don & friends admit to stuff they cannot grow! But there is no doubt about your honesty, thrift and sagacity, Sue
DeleteJoe Swift said on RHS Chelsea the other night that he couldn't grow Lily of the Valley because they need damp, shady conditions. Mine are quite happy, year after year, in the gritty border underneath my kitchen window which gets blisteringly hot in the summer months.Even the pros can get it wrong!
DeleteHow funny that you wanted one and one grew! That happened with me and Three cornered Leek. It's supposedly an invasive weed but it's a tasty, pretty one!! Kx
ReplyDeleteIt's not virtuous but our Nigella- Love-in-the-mist is a pretty name!
I love leek soup! And love (in a mist) is good
DeleteAlso what about Heartease?
ReplyDeleteOh I forgot that, and I blogged about it last month too
DeletePeace lily.
ReplyDeleteYes!! I'm glad you remembered that one. Thanks Philip
DeleteId not heard of the plant Honesty, by any of the names. There's a small native tree here called a Serviceberry. It does a good service for the birds as most love the berries.
ReplyDeleteI had forgotten Service trees. As a child I heard the name and thought it was where people held open air church services!
DeleteWhat a lovely find! I have not seen Honesty the plant anywhere around here. It should grow, maybe it is just not popular. I do remember my grandma in Pershore had dried ones in a display.
ReplyDeleteThat was a little bonus Welcome Home for you.
JanF
I've always considered it a very English plant.The dried stems make a lovely display when fresh flowers are scarce
DeleteWe call that plant, money plant. Because of the coins that contain the seeds. It's very interesting learning the different names for things! Anne in Wyoming USA
ReplyDeleteThat's very interesting - I've seen a green houseplant in the UK with round coin-shaped leaves which is called the Money Plant.
DeleteI think that "Lady's Mantle" is a noble name, and it has pretty leaves that water forms beads on.
ReplyDeleteLM (Latin name alchemilla) has been used for centuries by herbalists. It contains tannin, and salicylic acid (aspirin) and when made into tea it is said to be very beneficial to ladies. It helps with menstrual cramps, and menopausal symptoms. A very noble plant indeed! (and. pretty too)
DeleteThanks for the herbal information, I didn't know this about alchemilla.
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