Columbine

I love columbine flowers, they vary in size and color and reseed naturally in almost any part of the garden sun or part shade.  They bloom their second year in late spring/early summer.  First year you’ll spot them as foliage, green/blue deeply lobed leaves in threes.  Most plants have a lifespan of 3-5 years, but if you plant columbine, it will happily reseed.  They mean folly, undoubtedly for their rather shooting star quality.  It’s also said that they represent the dove.

In Mid evil times, it was considered inappropriate to give a woman a bouquet of columbine, suggesting seduction.

Along with Christianity’s popularity, the meaning changed to one of purity, hope, charity, and the Virgin Mary. I think they mean beautiful and am very happy to have them living in my yard.