Plant Badges Growing in Your Garden

[BoldHighlander]

My Google-Fu has failed me:

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

Hi, everything I've located lists the Clan Gunn plant badge as Juniper.

[creagdhubh]

My wife and her family are Robertsons, descended from the clan located in southern Perthshire-traditonal lands of the Robertsons of Struan (current Chief). She, as well as her uncle, Kenneth Alan Robertson, wear bracken in their brooch and bonnet. She tells me that bracken is the accepted plant badge of the Clann Donnachaidh and is indeed officially recognized by the Court of the Lord Lyon.

Yours aye,

[Kornkob]

Hi, everything I've located lists the Clan Gunn plant badge as Juniper.

Thank you.


Now to find a Juniper tree in Wisconsin.

[BoldHighlander]

I hit the local nurseries today in search of the elusive summer blooming White Heather (to add to my winter blooming white heather).

Well, at the last stop I found a whole display of summer blooming heathers, including many white varieties!!

Along with three of those, I also picked up the traditional "purple" flowering heather (plant badge for the Clan Donald) to plant in another location of the property. Once I've got them all planted I'll be posting pictures.

[ThistleDown]

Vaccinium vitis idaea, the Red Whortleberry of the Clan Chattan. In recent years the Macphersons have taken to using white heather as their
badge mainly because it is easily found in garden centres, but the rest of the constituent clans continue with this member of the heath family commonly found all over the central Highlands. This example is growing in my garden in North Vancouver. Whortlerry is also known as mountain cranberry, lingonberry, cowberry and foxberry.



Rex

[BoldHighlander]

Nice Rex! Thanks for posting the photo.

[creagdhubh]

Rex,

Many Macphersons still do wear red whortleberry as a plant badge-it has always been "interchangeable" with white heather. I have often seen Cluny wear both red whortleberry and white heather at different events.

I have not worn red whortleberry as a plant badge yet, however I would like to the next time I am in Highland dress. Would a common nursery carry it? Where would you recommend me locating red whortleberry or perhaps an equilavent?

Kind regards,

[ThistleDown]

Rex,

Many Macphersons still do wear red whortleberry as a plant badge-it has always been "interchangeable" with white heather. I have often seen Cluny wear both red whortleberry and white heather at different events.

I have not worn red whortleberry as a plant badge yet, however I would like to the next time I am in Highland dress. Would a common nursery carry it? Where would you recommend me locating red whortleberry or perhaps an equilavent?

Kind regards,

Yes, Cluny is very considerate -- makes him a good chief. White heather was adopted as an alternate badge by a new Macpherson society in London in the 1930s, I was told by someone who was at the formative meeting. Most likely that was because whortleberry was not available and white heather was, but there are a couple of less believable stories that circulated for a few years.

Vaccinium vitis idaea is available in most large garden centres in Scotland and Canada (although in Scotland most of the plants in private gardens have found their way there from Rothiemurcus or nearby wrapped in a bit of damp newsprint or a tea towel). I think you will find it available in centres where you are but, if not, check with a national mail order firm. There are two leaf sizes, of which the "Minor" is less leggy than the "Major" and better for domestic beds and wearing.

Cheers, Rex

[creagdhubh]

Rex,

Thank you for your very informative and quite helpful response, it is much appreciated Rex. I shall look into the red whortleberry situation and will definitely keep you abreast of what the results are. Cluny is indeed such a wonderful and considerate Highland Chief and is loved dearly. I am eager to meet with him, his son Jamie, and family again soon in August. Hopefully, God willing, you and I will have a chance to chat over a proper drink as well. I shall continue to stay in touch with you.

Cheers my friend,

[BoldHighlander]

I shall look into the red whortleberry situation and will definitely keep you abreast of what the results are.

And Kyle, if you get a red whortleberry planted in your garden, then please be sure to post a photo or two here!

Cheers!
:: T ::