"If colour preference is a window into a gardener's personality, then Frances's choice suggests a desire for serenity. Blue is a peaceful colour, calm and tranquil. With white, it connotes clear skies and white clouds, blue water and white sand. It is the combination that Chinese potters chose for their Ming porcelains and Delft potters for their earthenware. In flower beds, blue is cool on the eyes. Perhaps it is an unspoken secret of The Secret Garden."
Marta McDowell, Unearthing The Secret Garden: The plants & places that inspired Frances Hodgson Burnett
Inherited from my in laws I have a predominantly pink garden. I definitely need more blue. Unfortunately my plan for a pot of cornflower’s this year has been foiled by an overnight slug attack!
Posted by: Fran H-B | 30 May 2022 at 07:14 AM
What a lovely description. You always have such a marvelous selection of books for us!
Thank you and please keep your blog going.
Posted by: Kathleen | 31 May 2022 at 08:27 PM
Odd how difficult the colour blue can be. Few flowers are blue and blue in clothing can be difficult to match with other clothing colours.
I do like the tale of how a fleeing queen ( Austria? Prussia? Bavaria? That area of Europe anyway) rested in a meadow and her children made her a necklace of wild cornflowers . Later the cornflower was incorporated in her family crest.
Posted by: Erika W. | 31 December 2022 at 04:48 PM
Yes, Queen Louise of Prussia, I believe!
Posted by: Cornflower | 31 December 2022 at 06:30 PM