THE FOLKLORE OF PLANTS: Forget Me Not

Lisa Karen Miller

          After creating the Garden of Eden, God walked through it, naming each plant. Carefully admonishing them not to forget their God-given names, He then turned to leave.  He heard a small voice ask, “By what name am I called, O Lord?”

           Struck by His own forgetfulness (well, He’d had a busy day), God smiled down at the small blue flower and said, “Since I forgot you before, to remind me never to do so again, your name shall be Forget-me-not.”

           In the dangerous, witch-ridden month of May, Somerset, England folk felt safer wearing the protective Forget Me Not. It was also said that steel tempered with the juice of this flower would cut stone.

          Serving as a remedy for both snake and dog bite, it was also a helpful buttonhole for any traveler setting out on the unusual and potentially dangerous date of February 29^th.

          They were also worn as a symbol of fidelity when temporarily separated from a loved one.

          The flowers are edible, and can adorn salads or desserts.  The plant itself is used homeopathically for respiratory complaints; a syrup relieves chest congestion.

          In the language of flowers, it says, “Faithful love and undying memory.” For this reason, it has been adopted by the Dementia Friends as their emblem. To get involved in this worthy organization, visit dementiafriendsusa.org.

          This European perennial is a bee and butterfly magnet, and one of the world’s most-loved wildflowers.  Beatrix Potter grew them in her own garden at Hill Top Farm in England’s Lake District, and used them to decorate both “The Tale of Mr Jeremy Fisher,” and “The Tale of Tom Kitten.”

          Though the little clusters of sky blue flowers are certainly wonderful, this romantic legend of how it got its name is even better. The plant is a streamside species, so the setting makes sense.

          A medieval German knight was 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 swiftly was swept away, he tossed the bouquet to his lady on the bank with the three now-famous words: “Forget me not!”

          Lest you forget, November is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. 

© Copyright 2023 Lisa Karen Miller