yn yr ardd (in the garden)
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yn yr ardd (in the garden) |
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July – My back yard:
There are some curious blossoms in my wildflower garden. They’re right next to a trillium that I bought from a native plant rescue group so I’m guessing the blossoms belong to a plant that came in the same pot -- just like the “extras” that came with other trillium purchases, although I do know their names. I find no leaves, just stems sticking up out of the ground with clusters of small white flowers on top.
August 6 – OSU, West campus:
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I am tramping through the woods at Waterman Farm with a group searching for invasive plant species when, “What’s that??” I ask, pointing at some vivid green, almost chartreuse, stems with little green knobs all over the tops, thinking they are maybe some kind of strange fungus. A friend takes a couple pictures with his digital camera and shares the photos when we catch up to the rest of the group. They all meander back to investigate. One woman knows – wild leeks. Leeks equal Wales in my mind. I ask the camera-toting friend to please send me the pictures. |
Four days later – My back yard:
The curious blossoms in my garden are dropping off, leaving behind only stems with little green knobs all over the tops. Yep … bright green, almost chartreuse, stems and knobby tops. Wild leeks.
You know the legends: Saint David, Dewi Sant, was a vegetarian and lived on nothing but bread, water, herbs and leeks; Welsh warriors wore leeks during battle in order to determine the difference between friend and foe.
Wild leeks, another name for ramps, are smaller in size but of stronger flavor than cultivated leeks and have been compared in flavor and odor to a combination of onions and garlic. They are loaded with fiber, folic acid, calcium, vitamin C and the B vitamins, and contain the antioxidant, quercetin, which is thought to fight cancer. It is said that the whole plant will repel insects and moles and the juice of the plant is a moth repellent.
They are native to North America and are found growing around the Irish Sea, especially on the Welsh islands of Holyhead and Flat Holm, although sources disagree on whether wild leeks are native to England and Wales or were introduced by the Romans.
Shakespeare referred to Wales and leeks in his play “Henry V.”
The wild leek is the official flower of Cardiff.
I am very much enjoying the summer display of blossoms on my Dahlia, “Bishop of Llandaff” (see Feb.-June 2008 issue, bottom half of page 14) The plant was even visited one day by a hummingbird!
From board member Mary Ellen Morgan –
Sharon Kay Penman, a luncheon speaker at the Columbus 1998 National and long time friend of WSCO, is releasing her latest book, Devil's Brood, in early October, 2008. This is the third in her trilogy about Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine -- previous titles in the series are Time and Chance, and When Christ and His Saints Slept.
For those who love reading excellently written Welsh history, her Welsh trilogy of Here Be Dragons, Falls the Shadow, and The Reckoning are superior to all others. These make excellent gifts for all who are interested in Wales, Welsh history, British history, and human nature, and are available in both soft and hard cover.
(Editor’s note: visit the website where you can read a synopsis of Devil’s Brood plus the prologue and first chapter -- http://www.sharonkaypenman.com/)
Mary Ellen Morgan
There is a worthy web site, Americymru, where the aim is to provide a calendar with significant events relating to Welsh history and people of Welsh descent. It also has books in Welsh and English about Welsh topics and written by people of Welsh descent, as well as many other interesting treats
I encourage those of you with Internet access to frequently visit http://www.Americymru.com and investigate its various delights.
Editor’s Note: For those of you who want to reach out to others of Welsh heritage (or those that are just Cymruphiles) check out the group public pages and discussion forums – click on “Social.” Some of the other “interesting treats” the site has are language, travel, crafts and recipes. There’s also a section for music, both recorded and live, and a blog.