Forget-me-not (Myosotis)
These unassuming little flowers are among my garden favourites. The dainty flowers return every spring, becoming more abundant each year.
Blooming from April to the end of October, they are usually dressed in shades of blue, but sometimes appear in pink or white
They are a symbol of true love and remembrance. Our vets always send a small packet of forget-me-nots with a condolence note when one of our pets crosses the Rainbow Bridge.
One legend about forget-me-nots tells of a pair of sweethearts who were walking by the River Danube, when they spotted beautiful blue flowers growing on a small island in the river. The young man leapt into the water and battled through the strong current, managing to reach the island and pick some of the flowers. On his return journey, the waters proved too strong for him, and as he was being swept away, he threw the posy to his love, crying ‘Forget me not’. She wore forget-me-nots in her hair until the day she died.
The yellow centres indicate that the flowers are full of nectar. When the flower has been pollinated, the centres turn white. This indicates to bees and other pollinators, that the flowers are no longer offering nectar, the food they are seeking. The cupboard is bare, and they should look elsewhere.
Did you know that bees can count, and recognise images of human faces?
I do love forget-me-nots. We have quite a lot in bloom in our garden right now.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that about bees. Is that both honeybees and bumble bees?
Certainly honey bees, and some bumble bees can count up to four.
DeleteI knew that about the yellow centres and the nectar, but didn't know the story of how forget-me-nots got their name. I didn't know bees could recognise faces.
ReplyDeleteClever little beasts, bees.
DeleteI did not realise the centre went white once the nectar is all gone. Our vets sends out seeds as well.
ReplyDeleteI thought that was interesting. I don't know if other flowers display similar reactions.
DeleteI did not know that about the centers of the flowers! I'll have to watch ours and see which ones are white.
ReplyDeleteLittle details, easy to overlook.
DeleteI love Forget-me-nots. I thought I had them growing in my yard, but they are Bluets. Similar but the bluets are 4 petal and not 5. I had never heard the romantic legend. Always love the stuff I learn here.
ReplyDeleteI like them because they're faithful and need no work, as well as being pretty.
DeleteMaybe the reason the wild honey bees here tolerate me when I put out sugar water and they fly all around my face and hair is because they do recognize me! I love forget-me-nots. As a child there was a park we would go to that had these by the hundreds on the creek bank.
ReplyDeleteYou're proving the fact - well done! 🐝🐝🐝
DeleteThere are very few true blue flowers in gardens- forget-me-nots being in that select geoup.
ReplyDeleteSelect, and all the more welcome for it.
DeleteThey are one of my favorite flowers.
ReplyDeleteMine, too.
DeleteThey are such pretty flowers.
ReplyDeleteI agree.
DeleteBeautiful flowers and a lovely post.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Nicole.
DeleteThey are pretty looking flowers.
ReplyDeleteI think that is so nice of your vets to send a small packet of forget-me-nots with a condolence note when one of your pets crosses the Rainbow Bridge.
All the best Jan
I think many veterinary practices do that - it's a nice gesture and much appreciated.
DeleteThis post is full of heart as well as information about a flower I know very little about. I often get it confused with Sweet William flowers.
ReplyDeleteSweet Williams are another flower that I love - the scent is wonderful.
DeleteGreat, now the bees recognize me, too!
ReplyDeleteIf they recognise you, they won't sting . . .
DeleteThey are really beautiful. I think that's what grows in my garden in early spring.
ReplyDeleteThey pop up almost unexpectedly - I love them.
DeleteAlways a favorite. That heavenly blue. Sadly ours seem to have vanished. Fascinating information about bees.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry yours have disappeared - what a shame.
DeleteI love them, but some gardeners consider them a nuisance, almost a weed. Many animals can count to at least four. Bees are amazing!
ReplyDeleteI am not a proper gardener, so anything that grows is welcome.
DeleteIf you click on the three line "menu" at the top left of my blog you can scroll all the way down to my profile to find my email address to leave words for wednesday if you choose to. Let me know.
ReplyDeleteI will have a look.🌞
DeleteI always remember my angry bee. Cold mornings and you will often find a bee on the pavement or in the garden not able to move. So I would pick them up and give them some sugary water. Once I bought a big queen bee into the house and put it into a margarine box, boy did it buzz in fury ;)
ReplyDeleteI quite believe that bumble bees, soft and dopey as they can be are intelligent beings.
It's a good feeling when you 'save' a bee. I think most organisms are more aware than we realise.
DeleteBees don't often "go to ground" and I have read that when they do, it is their time to die and are best left alone.
DeleteThey are a pretty little flower. What sad story that is about the young couple.
ReplyDeleteIt's a sweet story. The forget-me-not is the emblem of the Alzheimer's Society, fittingly.
DeleteI look forward to them annually. hey bring later spring beauty, and ours are also a heritage from my father from many years ago. Ours do not last the season though.
ReplyDeleteThat is a lovely memento, very special.
DeleteI love forget me nots, that striking blue, so beautiful
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
They're not showy, just delicate and pretty.
DeleteWe have them in our garden and they abound in local woodlots. They bring me great happiness.
ReplyDeleteTo me, too.
DeleteThe legend is sad but yet beautiful in its own way. I have never seen them at any of our local nurseries...Texas may be way too hot...I'm going to look for some...love the blue.
ReplyDeleteHappy hunting.
DeleteOur garden is covered in them and so beautiful!
ReplyDelete. . . and they're trouble-free!
DeleteI didn’t know about the yellow centers of forget me nuts we have a spring low growing plant that grows wild hair that has tiny blue blues in the spring, which I always Thought were forget me nuts, but I don’t think they are. Those are lovely flowers and I love the legend..
ReplyDeleteGreen alkanet has similar blue flowers, but with bristly leaves, and it grows much taller than foret-me-nots, too.
DeleteI did not know this legend. Thank you for sharing it.
ReplyDelete😊
DeleteWonderful flowers and very well-named, I think. I did not know about bees being able to distinguish by color if any sustenance is available to them. Nature never ceases to amaze.
ReplyDeleteNature teaches so much.
ReplyDeleteI like them but read they are considered weeds. -Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteEven weeds have their supporters.
DeleteWhat a romantic tale ! I love this little flower too !
ReplyDeleteThere are several clumps of it in the garden.
DeleteThis is such a sweet beautiful flower. That is such a sweet story of how the name came to be.
ReplyDeleteI like learning about folk legends.
DeleteI love forget-me-nots but, for whatever reason, they are not common here. (At least in my little corner of "here.") I don't believe I ever heard about bees being able to count to 4...and now you have me wondering how that was determined to be so....
ReplyDelete. . . and now I'm wondering, too . . . 🤨
ReplyDeleteThey are beautiful little flowers and a sweet story of a love that never dies. That's also very sweet of your vet to send you the forget-me-not cards. I had no idea about the bees. Fascinating!
ReplyDeleteForget-me-nots are among my favourites flowers too.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that bees can count and recognize images of human faces. That's utterly fascinating! xxx