Happy Mother’s Day

Continuing with John Gerard’s ‘The Herball’ 1597 Frontispiece
The lady at the top of this art work is holding a basket of flowers in each hand.  I can see what looks like a sunflower in the right basket.  On reflection, it could be another plant from the Compositae family of flowers. Another observation, the basket is both lower and larger than the one in her left hand.  This could indicate the weight of the sunflower which can grow over 20 feet tall!  

So, for me now the representation of this lady in the frontispiece is possibly more to do with balance.  Light weight flora in her left hand and a heavier weight in her right.  Maybe presenting the ancient Greek goddess Themis, known for her clear sightedness – Greek Goddess of Justice and Law. 

John Gerard’s ‘vertues’ of the “Floure of the Sun or the Marigold of Peru”
“…we have found by triall, that the buds before they be floured, boiled and eaten with butter, vineger and pepper, after the manner of Artichokes are exceedingly pleasant meat.”

Either way, one to avoid in the garden for hay fever sufferers!  Although in recent times, some say that seafood and other foods high in omega-3 fatty acids have an anti-flammatory effect.  So consuming those foods could help to overcome the hay fever issue.

Almost universally, sunflowers are a symbol of hope, healing and joy.  In terms of health it is reputed to: improve skin health, boost energy levels and strengthen the immune system amongst other benefits.