Forget-Me-Nots Flower

I have four patches of forget-me-nots in my garden and every spring I enjoy their little tiny blue flowers. Often, my neighbors tell me that their forget-me-nots died after the first year and want to know my secret.

Forget-me-nots can be annual or prennenial. M. alpestris need a sunny, well-drained location while the perennial M. palustris, frequently called the “marsh” forget-me-not, prefers moist soil and a semi-shaded location.

By the end of may, the plant is done flowering. I cut the stems back and after a couple weeks new growth emerges and these are the plants that will bloom next year.

Forget-me-nots have shallow roots and you have to be careful not to pull out the plan while cutting the stems. Perennial Forget-Me-Nots can be propagated by separating clumps of established plants.

Forget-me-nots is the state flower of Alaska, but they are considered invasive and are banned in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

So what’s up with the name? Forget-me-nots have been around for centuries. In a German legend, God named all the plants when a tiny unnamed one cried out, "Forget-me-not, O Lord!" God replied, "That shall be your name."

In the 15th century Germany, they believed the wearers of the flower would not be forgotten by their lovers. From Mill’s “History of Chivary”: A medieval German knight is said to have been picnicking on the bank of the Danube with his lady love. He descended the bank to the water’s edge to gather some of the lovely blue flowers he saw there, but while he was near the water, tragedy struck. A “freshet” (flash flood) suddenly appeared and pulled the young man into the churning river. As he was literally swept away, he tossed the bouquet to his lady on the bank with the three now-famous words: “Forget me not!”

Forget-me-nots flower is connected with romance and tragic fate. It was often worn by ladies as a sign of faithfulness and enduring love. Most people use these in weddings for love.

Sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forget-me-not

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=MYSC

http://www.plant-care.com/forget-me-nots.html

http://www.wildflowerinformation.org/WildflowerFolklore.asp

http://www.gardenersnet.com/flower/fmn.htm