I have lots of Herb Robert growing in the stones of the passageway down the side of the bungalow. It spreads easily and I suppose is classed as a weed when it appears in pots or in flower gardens.
It's nice to be able to leave it growing where it is, doing no harm as it's a pretty little plant with red stems and pink flowers.
The Herb Robert page from the Complete book of Flower Fairies by Cecily Mary Barker
Various origins have been suggested for its name - that the plant cured Roberts Plague; that it is named after the Duke of Normandy, Saint Rupert or Robin Hood. Perhaps named after Robin Goodfellow or Puck. In Somerset children were once told "If 'ee pick 'n, someone'll take thee". Some places called it 'Death come quickly'! (Information from my book Discovering the Folklore of Plants by Margaret Baker)
Thank you to everyone for comments yesterday about the books, apologies if you can't get them where you are.
Back Tomorrow
There is a lot of itimy garden. The leaves can be used in salads - but I have yet to try that
ReplyDeleteNot sure I want to try eating them!
DeleteSo many pretty flowers are classed as weeds. It's nice to be able to leave them where they are and enjoy them.
ReplyDeleteThey used to get everywhere in my herb garden at the smallholding and I was always pulling them out. Now it's nice to leave them
DeleteI have some in the garden and today have learned its name. Thank you. Catriona
ReplyDeleteThey spread easily but also easy to pull out if you don't want them
DeleteI let part of my garden do as it pleases and there's a lot of herb Robert! It's pretty. I just let it grow wherever it decides really.
ReplyDeleteI didn’t know its name, Thank you, it is pretty and I often leave it too.
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
I love that name. And I leave alone a lot of what I call wildflowers and the books call weeds! The bees like a lot of them.
ReplyDeleteI love herb Robert, the look, the smell - it's harmless and it fills spaces.
ReplyDeleteI let some weeds grow if they are pretty and green and have flowers. I'm a lazy weeder! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Sue
ReplyDeleteI didn’t know what it was called
Like you I’m happy to let it grow
I have masses of it here. I am a bit cruel and dig the babies up or I would have it wall to wall. A shame as it is a pretty plant, but you can have too much of a good thing sometimes . . . Interesting to read the folk lore about it.
ReplyDeleteWe've got that stuff everywhere! But like you I don't mind it too much. It is pretty, at least.
ReplyDeleteA weed is a plant growing where you don’t want it to…I have Herb Robert in various places in the garden, doesn’t do any harm I don’t think!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a pretty little flower. I'd leave it too.
ReplyDeleteSuch a sweet plant.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Herb Robert seems to grow like a groundcover with a lovely small flower. I do like the way it takes over and fills-in a spot. I mow around ferns and groundcovers on my property. Large islands of such plants are lovely.
ReplyDelete