PHOEBE PHOLLOW UP

Back in August I reminisced about my grandmother Phoebe and her love of wildflowers. In that post, I suggested renaming Queen Anne's Lace to something more meaningful like "Grandmother's Lace".

Shortly after writing this post I decided I should put some ACTUAL ACTION behind the words. So I started with a google search, and ended up at a botanical garden and research center, where I posted the question below.

After reading some of the answers, I thought I'd give it a couple more weeks to see who would respond. And then, like everything else, I forgot about it as work, family life, the presidential election and holidays absorbed the remaining functional cells of my brain! 

("The advantage of a bad memory, is that one enjoys several times the same good things for the first time" -Friedrich Nietzsche)

So, five months later when I remembered I had a blog, I was also reminded of my lack of follow up. But, of course, by now I couldn't remember what the heck the name of the website was. This resulted in yet another search. I knew I would recognize the site when I saw the name in the search results, seemed so simple, right? Yeah...no. It is amazing what will come up, and how far down the list things can get buried if you don't use the same words IN the same order. After a couple dozen different combinations, I found it. The University of British Columbia Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research.

I had 28 responses to my question, mostly from the same 4 or 5 people. As it turns out, even the experts don't agree. I found the comments interesting though, and even enjoyed the "digs" at each other. The recommendations varied from contacting state legislators and writing proposals (complete with credible evidence to substantiate the request) to lobbying naturalists, horticulturalists, authors and publishers.

My favorite part of the entire discussion was the disagreement on which country has "ownership" of the plant. Michael from Britain seemed a bit frustrated with everyone on "our side of the pond". I am sure I should also be insulted about the "least educated in society naming things" remark, but in fact he now inspires me to keep going. Thanks for the motivation Michael.

I thought I would share with you the dialog in the actual thread form. You can read those by clicking on the word ANSWERS below.

FYI, I am looking into the idea from Post#19 TOGATA57 from Columbus, Ohio. He had a good suggestion, an example of a precedent in Michigan, and very similar memories too.

So, stay tuned for more Phoebe Phlower Phollow up.

MY QUESTION: What is the process for renaming a wildflower? I am curious about who you contact or write to in order to petition for a name change of a wildflower? Has anyone ever heard what the process is? Or if it has ever been successfully done?

THE ANSWERS

PHOEBE'S PHLOWER

Queen Anne's Lace needs a new name!
A weed is but an unloved flower -Ella Wheeler Wilcox

For more than half my life, which is a significant amount of time, (I constantly feel compelled to throw this type of stuff in) I always thought this lacy, delicate wildflower was called Grandmother's Lace. More than likely it was planted in my subconscious because my grandmother, Phoebe, introduced it to me when I was young girl.

Grandma Phoebe was a lover of nature, she loved all things wild, and could name every bird species and wildflower in sight. Clearly I transferred that passion into renaming Queen Anne's lace (Daucus Carota, is its scientific name) Grandmother's Lace.

Everything about this flower brings back memories of grandma. It's bloom resembles the hand-embroidered edges to hankies or doilies that she and other family members would spend hours making. The pure volume of Queen Anne's along a ditch reminds me of our family in a way as well. It was a large one, 30 plus, wild, untamed grandchildren. And just like those unkept wildflowers, Grandma Phoebe found the beauty in each one of us. She could make you feel like you were the only child in the room, even when the noise and chaos would suggest otherwise. There even is a great deal of symbolism in this wildflower to the economics of our life back then. We didn't have a lot of money or a lot of possessions, but who needed overpriced roses, when nature had given us a beautiful bouquet of wildflowers free for all of us to enjoy.

As I grow older, her appreciation for these simple things of life seems to take on more meaning. What seemed so boring to me as a pre-teen, now seems like opportunity wasted to better understand the real beauty of life. Grandma Phoebe had it down cold. Beauty in the everyday and love for it, is the real wealth. Grandma mastered that, because as I look back on my childhood and my time with her, I don't remember ever feeling like I went without or that I missed out on anything. Every memory of her is priceless.

So now, I'd like to know who or where to petition for a name change. It seems ironic to me that this wildflower, aka weed, would be named after a queen. These days I know it wouldn't be found in a palace. I know the story behind the name, but, heck, times change, and we live in a world where history is constantly being corrected. This wildflower existed before the time of Queen Anne, her grandmother and her grandmother's grandmother.

Of course, I am willing to compromise on the new name. It doesn't have to be named "Phoebe's Phlower". (I just like to type it this way). I would settle for "Grandmother's Lace" Kind of a tribute for all grandmothers who have taken their grandchildren on nature walks, and gladly gathered bouquets of wildflowers along the way. To me it just seems right it be named for those who understand its true meaning. Queen Anne can still have her furniture, just give us back the flower.

I'm sure I'm not alone in this idea. I'm sure it isn't even an original idea. Being introduced to wildflowers by a grandparent is universal. It is their unofficial job. They've learned to slow down and breathe, to appreciate that beauty isn't in a bottle or on a label. It surrounds us each day in nature if we just take the time to look. When I retire, and am blessed with grandchildren, I plan on taking it up as a second career as well.

Until then, I intend to look into this name change thing.