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The Poor Man's Heart's-ease

2/18/2019

8 Comments

 
"Go to a poor man's garden and ask him my name—he'll tell you it is Heartsease; and where will you find a better than that? And why am I called so? Because it's my character—wherever I go, there I flourish. If the gardener seeds me, pots me, and pets me, I come out all velvet and gold, like yonder beauties. If the wind carries my seed to a wall-top or a rubbish heap, I do my best and come out in the same colours, though not so rich and bright. I rejoice alike in sunshine and shower; neither drought nor rains will destroy me. I may hang my head now and then, but I always come up again. No lot is perfect; but that is the nearest to it which has heartsease to sweeten it." ​
                                                                                                                                  ~from Original Fables (1870)
                                                                                                                                        Sophie Amelia Prosser
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8 Comments
Glenda Jean
2/18/2019 03:29:48 pm

I don't believe I know what Hearsease looks like. Maybe you can publish a picture next summer when it blooms.

Love the pictures of the pansies. I have some bright yellow ones on my car port to cheer me up. They won't survive long in our hot summer weather, but for now they are a bright spot to enjoy.

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Joanna link
2/18/2019 04:41:43 pm

The flower in the pictures is actually Heartsease, but now more commonly known as Johnny-Jump-Up (Viola tricolor). 😊
Sorry if I got you confused! It has so many names, including Pansy, although when I think of a pansy I think of the larger cultivated types, like the Swiss Giants.

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Eliza link
2/18/2019 07:25:25 pm

Very cheering on this wintery day! Thanks for making me smile. :)

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Joanna link
2/19/2019 08:20:48 am

I'm glad it made you smile. These flowers are my sunshine right now! 😊

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JanetLee
2/18/2019 08:45:01 pm

Beautiful! Pictures and words.

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Joanna link
2/19/2019 08:21:27 am

I'm glad you enjoyed them! 😊

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Jason link
2/21/2019 11:08:12 pm

Love pansies. The faces, the cheerful colors, and so hardy in cold weather. You probably know that pansy comes from pensee, to think, so they are considered flowers of remembrance.

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Joanna link
2/27/2019 02:43:03 pm

They are wonderful little flowers! Yes I have read about about Pansy coming from the French Pensee. It's always very interesting to learn how flowers get their names!

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    ​I am a passionate gardener and seed-saver, who also enjoys playing the violin and accordion, running, spending time with my 4 golden retrievers, keeping chickens, photography, and reading. ​
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