Tuesday 15 May 2007

IN PRAISE OF........ AQUILEGIA

IN BLOOM TODAY IN OUR GARDEN




Aquilegia are part of the Ranunculaceae family, their relatives include Hellebores, Clematis and Buttercups. It is a hardy, herbaceous evergreen perennial. Aquila is Latin for eagle, and this is how the name derives, as the spurs are said to look like a bird in flight. Other names I know of for it are Columbine and Granny's Bonnet. It was considered sacred to Venus; carrying a posy of it could arouse the affections of a loved one. Nicholas Culpeper (1616–1654) an English botanist, herbalist and physician recommended it to ease the pains of childbirth. In modern herbal medicine it is used as an astringent and diuretic.

Position: full sun or partial shade
Soil: fertile, moist, well-drained soil
Warning: Contact with the sap may cause skin irritation
Maintenance: Easy to maintain Aquilegia is a ready self-sower so be prepared to thin out some seedlings. Not all will be true to form. Prune foliage back in the early spring before new growth appears although some gardeners prefer to deadhead blossoms and prune foliage back in the fall to prevent self-seeding. Aquilegias can die off after a few years and aren't the longest lived of perennials so many gardeners allow self-seeding and keep any of the new plants whose flowers they enjoy.

9 comments:

Jeanette said...

Hi Ruth
Ilove those Granny bonnets and that large purple one is gorgeous. Ugh that rubbish is still there i hope it doesnt smell.

Linda said...

What a lot of beautiful blooms you have. I love your slideshow you have created, just a little different from mine. Stop by and see my slideshow of spring blooms.

Auntie Noo said...

T'is Mr Noo's favourite flower!!!!

A wildlife gardener said...

Your aquilegia collection is superb, Ruth. I love all the colours. Great info too. And I would love to see a comma butterfly. These are great photos. Well done you!

Anonymous said...

hi mummy

Perhaps you should remind me of the soothing qualities of Aqualigia's when we finally fall pregnant - lol
Love ya
xxx

Carol Michel said...

Ruth... thanks for leaving the nice comment on my blog. I like columbine, too, and let me self sow a bit, then cut them back in the fall. Then I've new plants to take the place of any that don't come back some spring.

Great slideshow!

Anonymous said...

I love grandma's bonnets and our garden is full of them. I cut them down after flowering and they give me another show later in the season.

love and hugs gina xxx

Glickster said...

Lovely Aquilegias!!!!
I'm envious.
Barry
www.sunfarm.com

Yolanda Elizabet Heuzen said...

I'm a big fan of columbines, they are so pretty and so easy to grow. Great slide show! I see we grow many of the same Granny's bonnets.

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