Plant Badges Growing in Your Garden

[thescot]

My plant badge (Donnachaidh) is bracken fern. It grows all over the place, and on the back of my property, there is a goodly bit in the low area. I've picker and used it in my bonnet several times over the years, but I find that it wilts pretty fast. At the Stone Mountain Games 10 or 12 years ago, I picked enough for anyone to wear it who might care to, and it was all in pretty sad shape by the late afternoon.

I may go for artificial sometime just to have some around for my collection of bonnets.

[BoldHighlander]

I've picker and used it in my bonnet several times over the years, but I find that it wilts pretty fast. At the Stone Mountain Games 10 or 12 years ago, I picked enough for anyone to wear it who might care to, and it was all in pretty sad shape by the late afternoon.

Jim, have you tried wrapping the cut ends in a moist paper towel wrapped in plastic or foil? Sometimes that helps to extend the life of a cutting.

Just a thought

[piperdbh]

Jim, have you tried wrapping the cut ends in a moist paper towel wrapped in plastic or foil? Sometimes that helps to extend the life of a cutting.

Just a thought

...or get a piece of fern from a florist. The kind that they use to "green" an arrangement holds up well, even though it's not the exact species that you're looking for.

[BoldHighlander]

What no dandelions!

Mael,

Just a couple days ago I looked out my front window and lo, what did I see?

[BoldHighlander]

[Edit] Interestingly I have discovered while reading further down the same link I cited in my previous post that common heath is taken to be heather. I was in error and am glad of it.

Ach, no! No error attached, such things happen to us all

I wrote a poem about it. As penance for my fault I shall share it here now. Out of season, but here it is.

Gather Leaves
In a time of cooling passion
And dipping sun
I gather leaves to me
Collecting ruby maple and ochre oak
Yellow yew and ashen ash
I gather leaves to me like new found friends
And old ones, comfortable and trustworthy
Holding chestnuts and acorns for security
I gather leaves to me
Those I can't embrace with my arms
I hold with my eyes
Some crimson and black
As they leave their burgundy host
Each leaf fall a note in the aria of autumn trees
Tumbling to the refrain
Relentless time beat out in tempo of decay
Umber and fading on the ground
Windswept and rainwashed away
But one more for my hat
I gather leaves to me.

Bravo!
You have quite a way with words sir

[Schiehallion]

In answer to growing heather in a container... Yes very possible as there are many varieties of heather. Look for ERICA species which like an acid soil. although E.carnea will tolerate alkaline, "Springwood White' is an good example and flowers late winter to spring. ERICA x darleyensis 'White Glow' will grow in any good soil, being alkaline tollerent. For a summer flowering heather CALLUNA vulgaris. acid soil and doesn't tolerate alkalinity. A good white is 'Kinlochruel' don't allow the plants to suffer long periods of drought and don't water with tap water as this my be alkaline. All heathers may be trimmed after flowering, cutting off the browning dead flower spikes. If container grown they may need replacing every few years, but do best in a sunny garden. I have grown them in window boxes successfully . They are frost hardy.

[creagdhubh]

Forgive me if this isn't the place to post this thread (mod's please feel free to move it if needed) but given that there has been at least two threads that have been devoted to clan plant badges: here & here; I thought it'd be fun if those who have their clan's plant badge growing in their garden/on their property to post pictures of them here.

As I just recently added my clans plant badge to a rather bare spot on my property, I thought I'd kick off the proceedings:



The white heather, plant badge of the Macdonell's of Keppoch:




Though not a plant badge, I thought I'd mention this Irish tatting fern that was peeking out behind the heather in the above photo. I had lost one two years ago & was thrilled to see this one coming back just last week


In a planter box I have some purple heather, the plant badge for most of the branches of Clan Donald.
Later this year I'll transplant it in a section of the property I have earmarked for it:

Is that white heather I presume? That is the plant badge of my clan as well, the Clan Macpherson. I used to order fresh white heather from Scotland every blooming season. Looks great!

[creagdhubh]

The local nursery had a few.....most I see are the purplish or "candy cane" (go from white-to pink-to purple) variety.
Here's a SW Scottish seller of heather: http://www.gallowayheathers.com/. I don't know if it can be imported, but if you can't locate white heather perhaps they can help?

There used to be a company located in the Highlands, that did sell sprays of fresh white heather and also dried white heather. They were a fantastic compnay, yet their website is no longer available and I am unsure if they are still in business. It wasn't too long ago that I ordered sprays of white heather from them. Wish they were still around. Fast shipping and the heather came ready to go, with green floral tape and everything!

www.scottishwhiteheather.co.uk

[sydnie7]

My plant badge (Donnachaidh) is bracken fern. . .[snip]

I must confess I had no clue what the Donnachaidh plant badge was, nor the identity of this delicate fern that "volunteers" in the shadiest corner of our patio. I think it is based next door, but has spread under the fence. How delightful to not only learn its name, but to discover its connection to both Bob's and my clan!



And XMTS is well-represented, too, at least until I get out there and do some clean-up We don't get the lush dandelions that others show, just these skimpy, weedy, insect-ridden examples.

[Kornkob]

My Google-Fu has failed me:

What reference would I use to determine the plant badge of Clan Gunn (sept Robinson, if it matters)?