Over the weekend we made a day trip to Richters Herbs, so I could partake in my yearly bacchanalian overdose on herbs. This was our first time driving alone (rather than hitching a ride with friends) and I was pleased to find out that they are a dog-friendly business, allowing us to bring Molly inside as long as she was kept on a leash. Afterward, some two or three hours later because that’s how long it takes me to walk up and down the aisles 100 times, touching every single plant in the greenhouse with the exception of stinging nettle, we drove further east in search of a place to picnic. We found a little stream with a park in the town of Uxbridge and after eating dinner, we walked alongside for a bit so that I could take some photos.
The stream is backed by houses on one side, and some garden plants must have got loose over the years because the moist soil at its edges were completely over run with swathes of cornflower blue Forget-me-not.
Davin took this photo of me crouched among the forget-me-nots, taking the photos in this post.
I don’t have the knowledge to differentiate between woodland forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica) or true aka water forget-me-not (Myosotis scorpioides) on sight, but I suspect it was the later since it prefers moist soil, like the kind found along the banks of a stream. Unfortunately, this is the more aggressive of the two and the one that appears on invasive species lists.
The forget-me-nots were like a stream of their own, mimicking the motion of the water beside it.
There were also a few, scattered white flowers, but you had to get up close to see them. At a distance the colonies of blooms showed as blue.
Gayla, those pictures are beautiful…. You really have a talent for photography.
I think if I physically went to Richters, I might never leave. The happiest deliveries to my home are the plants I get from Richters! Looks like you had a beautiful, soul-filled day.
Here in eastern Pennsylvania, there is a local stream in the parks system backed by homes, and a very similar situation is developing. The homes have a steep drop off in their back yards and one garden was loaded with Forget me Nots. They are migrating down the slope toward the waterway, but I don’t know if they are the kind that prefers wet feet or not. The stream leads to the Lehigh and Delaware rivers eventually. One never knows how far a plant can go when it innocently arrives on the property. The longer I garden, the pickier I am about what I install here. Thanks for reminding us about environmental issues with invasive species.
The waves of blue reminded me of bluebells I used to see in the spring back in Kentucky. Thanks for sharing. Your photos are gorgeous.
While I totally understand the seriousness of invasive species, I would not mind either Forget-Me-Not variety invading my yard.
I have always loved forget-me-nots. :-) They grew wild along a stream where I lived in Washington State. :-)
At my childhood home in Leelanau County, Michigan, our house backed up to a natural stream with a steep wooded bank in some places. The banks were overgrown with Forget-me-not, Lilly of the Valley, and spearmint all growing happily together. I sure do miss that stream.
Great Pictures. Reminds me of growing up in PA. We had a number of forget-me-nots and other interesting species. I’m now in S. Florida completely different flowers anfd plants here. And, I cant believe I’m saying it, sometimes I miss the four seasons.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
Bill
I’ve never actually seen garden f-m-nots…in Simcoe co. and all around Georgian Bay in Ontario they grow in the wild EVERYwhere! I couldn’t tell the difference between the type running along side the creeks and the kind that grows in the sand (and woods) where it’s totally dry… is there an obvious difference in the leaf or other identifying characteristics? My Dads back yard at Blue Mt. is one giant sea of blue in the spring it’s amazing to see…they have very shallow roots and people here are forever pulling them out of the cracks with zero effort, they do spread easily….And have an abundance of seeds when left to dry on their own-they are all gone now in zone 4b at end of June but I have collected many dried pods that I just toss in the woods every yr. to make more! Maybe I should rethink that ? because they don’t have a serious underground root system like some invasive species and are more like daisies, I wouldn’t have thought that this would be a problem…tiny threads for roots. Love em! Next yr. I’ll remember to photograph them taking over the sandy yard. Love YGG posts … And thank u SO much Gayla for such detailed info about your Etsy tomato seeds! I just found it in a spam folder many mos. later. Excellent specific information, you are so generous w your knowledge and it’s great to read about a T.O. Gardener’s experience.
I love the photos. I would have to pull up a chair and just stare. Thanks for the post!