In a Vase on Monday: Columbine

On a Monday Cathy at Rambling in the Garden invites us to join her for ‘In a Vase on Monday’. Well, I have a bowl rather than a vase this week!

Floating Hellebores is an excellent way to display their flowers which normally hang downwards. The same with Aquilegias, which float equally well, although some do tend to turn on their side.

I have so many variations this year, I wanted to see them up close up to admire their detail. Floating them is perfect for this.

In the UK we generally call Aquilegia vulgaris simply Aquilegia or Granny’s bonnets. They probably have other common names too. But the old English term for them was Columbine.

In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Ophelia’s words ‘There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance’ have become well-known. But she went on to list other flowers, including the columbine, in reference to forsaken love.

The symbolism of flowers is relatively lost on most people these days compared with Shakespeare’s days. Such a shame! In fact I also know very little on the subject. I am, however, sure the world would be a better place if we took more notice of flowers!

Happy Gardening!