April 19, Napowrimo 2026. Today we are charged with picking a flower or two (or a whole bouquet) from this online edition of Kate Greenaway’s Language of Flowers. We are then to write our own poem in which we muse on our selections’ names and meanings. If so inclined, we could even do some outside research into your flowers, and incorporate facts that we learn into your work.
I looked through the list and stopped at Bachelor’s Buttons , because it was a name I’d not heard. I was surprised at the characteristic that it have been given – celibacy. I was also surprised that I’d not known the humble Cornflower by this exotic name and when I looked up this Grantham Gardener’s blog, I was even more impressed and then inspired to write the following.
Once bodacious, here beguiling,
As a child you left me smiling,
Now I find that you’re a beaux’s best buttonhole.
Blue petals of stellar candy,
A sign worn by fancy dandies,
Brave bachelors longing not to be alone.
With no social media signal,
They wore flowers bright as titles,
Singing, “I’ll be yours forever when you take me home”.
Blooming cheek!
As we were invited to do more than one plant, I decided to do more than one poem.
I wanted to know what the last plant on the alphabetical list was and was surprised it stopped at W – I mean, what happened to Xenoscapa, Yarrow and ….
Wormwood, last on list?
Are these posey posed questions?
Missing Zinnia?
Missives & Musings 