There are few plants that evoke such warm associations as the forget-me-not. The charming blue flowers are so inconspicuous that they must call attention to themselves so that they are not forgotten. This theme appears in many legends. Others say that the forget-me-nots are a reflection of Our Lady's blue eyes. The image of forget-me-nots appears on numerous postcards, pictures, embroidery, etc.
Often accompanies spring and Easter themes. In flower symbolism, forget-me-nots are a sign of eternal memory. Recently, in our country, they have been given a new meaning, moving with the times, as they have been recognized as a symbol of ecological awareness.And so, May 15 was established as the Polish Forget-Me-Not Day. The originator of this initiative was Andrzej Zalewski, a journalist of Polish Radio I, who has been running the Eko-Radio program for many years.
Forget-me-nots in detail
The genus of forget-me-not belongs to the Boraginacea family. The Latin name of the genus Myosotis literally means "mouse ear". A tiny, modest flower seems to be vulnerable and requires loving care. Meanwhile, forget-me-nots do well in a variety of habitats. Of about 100 species of the genus Forget-me-not, most prefer shady, cool sites, but they can also be found in the marsh zone near water reservoirs, dry meadows or the alpine zone.
They are found on almost all continents. They share a similar structure of shoots and flowers. The whole plants are covered with hairs (a typical feature of the borage family). The flowers are tiny, most often light blue, and at the base of the petals, they are equipped with yellow formations called caps.
They point the way to nectar and are an additional decorative element of flowers. Forget-me-nots are very popular as ornamental plants. They are grown as biennial plants.Most of the cultivars belong to the species of forest forget-me-notM. sylvatica. They grow up to 20-60 cm in height. They do well in almost any soil, as long as it is sufficiently moist. They can grow in shade or sunlight, but flowering is more abundant in the sun.
Plants planted in a larger group as they bloom (in May and June) give a true spectacle of blues and blues, less pink and whites. On flowerbeds and flowerbeds, they can also be combined with other spring species, such as pansies, daisies, fragrant lacquers or Asian buttercups. They perfectly complement the compositions of bulbous plants, later covering their drying leaves. Forget-me-nots also look beautiful on borders, in containers on balconies and terraces, as well as in apartments for seasonal decoration.
Small bunches of cut shoots of forget-me-nots will surely please everyone who receives them. After flowering, the plants usually die, so it is worth planning a replacement for them in the summer and autumn.
Propagation
Forget-me-nots are propagated by sowing seeds, less often by division or shoot cuttings. Seeds are sown in summer, then flowering plants are obtained in the spring of the next year, spring sowing rarely gives individuals that bloom in the same year. The seeds germinate the fastest at a temperature of 20-22 ° C, then emergence appears 15-25 days after sowing. A temperature of 9-12 ° C is sufficient for further growth.
After emergence, the seedlings should be pierced individually into the pots, and in autumn they should be planted permanently, with a spacing of 20-25 cm. In summer, the plants should be kept in the coolest possible place, e.g. in shade or at a northern location.
