Myosotis



Do you recognize these? They’re forget-me-nots. At least, that’s what I always called them until we moved to Switzerland for a time and I learned to call them by their genus, “Myosotis.” That word is taken from the Ancient Greek for “mouse’s ear," which the foliage is thought to resemble. Charming, no?

No. Not to me, anyway. I was charmed, the first year that we were in our house, when forget-me-nots arrived in our garden to announce the arrival of spring. I like blue flowers very much, and these little ones are cheerful and low maintenance. But that was just the problem. They were too hardy and intrepid. Between the wood violets and the forget-me-nots, there was soon no room for the new flowers and berry bushes I wanted to plant. “Garden pests,” I began to call them, and I set out to conquer them, pulling them out by the roots and bundling them off to the bin. Year after year. It’s been an ongoing battle (those aren’t my only garden pests), but I have made room for the raspberries and roses, the peonies and snapdragons, and the lavender I can’t live without. I’ve come to peace with some of the wood violets, which require digging to remove, but because forget-me nots  are so defenseless, I still have been merciless in snatching them up.

Now we live in a different time. Spring has returned, but I can no longer buy cut flowers to have in the house until the garden blooms. I can’t run to the nursery to pick up annuals for the outdoor pots. Our neighbor children haven’t been by with order forms for their school plant sales. But guess what is waiting for me in the garden now? Those blessed forget-me-nots, as bright and cheery as ever. And am I glad to see them now! It turns out that they'll stay fresh in water for the better part of a week. I’m looking at my last harvest as I write this. They’re getting spent and need to be replaced, but unlike many other cut flowers, they don’t even droop. These sweet, tiny blossoms are much stronger than they look.

I’m thinking of forget-me-nots with new appreciation. Traditionally, they symbolize faithful love. And despite my annual rampage, these faithful flowers have come back to my garden each year. I even see them with loving eyes now. And while I will still try to keep them under control, I won’t be trying to get rid of them all anymore. I’m taking a lesson from the garden today.

In this time of uncertainty and fear, it's good to be reminded of the faithfulness, persistence, and strength of small things. I can take reassurance and renewed energy for my small efforts from the forget-me-nots’ example. Perhaps that will be a help for you, too. And to my friends and family who began the Passover celebration last night, I know that it may be very hard to be alone or without all your loved ones for your Seder, but I hope that you feel your family and friends very near to you at this special time. I wish you a blessed Passover. I pray that there will be a large and even more joyful gathering around your table next year.

Until tomorrow, stay safe and be well. If you live around Portland, enjoy this glorious sun on what is supposed to be the warmest day of the year so far. We know that the rains cannot be far behind, but today we can take off the jackets and be reminded of brighter days to come. As my wise friend Ted reminds us, “If spring comes, can summer be far behind?”

Love,
Nancie/Mom/Mimi/Grandma



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