A Bouquet of Hope

This Easter, we are bringing together a collection of stories of some of the plants and flowers that are springing up in people’s gardens across the world. There are many flowers that have been used as symbols of joy, positivity and hope – definitely things that we could all do with right now…

You can find out more about our flowers, plants and blossom on the curator’s blog.

 

Roses for well-being and mindfulness

Our environment can play a very important part when it comes to our mood, especially in a time like the present when it seems like things are out of our control. Sometimes when life throws things at us to keep a positive mindset is the most important thing, but the objects around us can be crucial too.

Roses for strength: Shaun’s yellow roses for well-being and the Strength card of the famous Rider-Waite tarot deck, the female figure dressed in white has roses hanging from her waist and flowers in her hair. (source)

Flowers and greenery have an impact on our health, reducing stress and promoting tranquillity. For example, roses are used in the imagery of four cards in the tarot, and are generally considered to be symbols of purity, wisdom, and balance in each.

Personally, when I am around flowers I tend to feel less anxious and depressed. Find what makes you happy during these uncertain times and try to surround yourself with it.

Shaun Bennett

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Borage – A Star of Nature

Borage is also known as starflower as it bears vibrant bright-blue, five-petaled, star-shaped flowers.  It is native to the Mediterranean region, but now cultivated around the world for its edible uses and herbal properties*. Since ancient times it has been one of the most famous and valuable herbs, and has been used in medicine for more than 700 years. 

Borage flowers, displayed on the third floor, Manchester Museum.

Borage is sometimes referred to as the ‘Herb of Gladness’. The Roman scholar Pliny the Elder believed that borage was the ‘Nepenthe’ in Homer’s Odyssey, which induced absolute forgetfulness when infused in wine. He called it Euphrosynum after one of the Three Graces, Euphrosyne, the Greek goddess of joy!

The Greek physician Dioscorides, in his De Materia Medica, suggested to take borage to ‘cheer the heart and to lift the depressed spirits’. Gerard, in his 1597 publication, ‘Herbal’, extolled the virtues of borage ‘for the comfort of heart, to drive away sorrow, and increase the joy of the minde.’

Borage Flowers (Image: Fang Zong)

Modern research indicates that borage can stimulate adrenaline production, which helps to lift you up. Borage is a natural and effective antidepressant, to alleviate pensiveness, sadness and melancholy. Like a twinkling star at night, the bright blue starflower can help to overcome the “blue” feeling

*It should be noted that the fresh herb contains trace toxins which are hepatotoxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic!

Fang Zong

Read the full post here.

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Peony – myth and medicine

Running alongside The British Museum Spotlight Loan of a Ming Emperor’s Seat is a story of the flowers that may have surrounded it.

Peonies are among the ‘Twelve Guests’, a list of popular decorative plants grown in Chinese gardens. There are different versions of this list but the twelve most famous plants or ‘guests’ often include: cassia (gui), plum (mei), orchid, lotus, tree peony, daphne, rose, jasmine, herbaceous peony, camellia, cherry and chrysanthemum. Today, we still appreciate their beautiful flowers and pleasant fragrances.

Tree peonies (Paeonia suffruticosa), print from the ‘A Ming Emperor’s Seat’ exhibition.

Peonies are native to Asia, Europe and Western North America. They have large, fragrant flowers, in colours ranging from purple and pink to red, white or yellow – but they only have a short blooming season in late spring, usually only 7–10 days!

Peonies have been included in may artworks, including those by Conrad Gessner and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. They are also common Japanese tattoo art inspired by Utagawa Kuniyoshi‘s illustrations. His paintings of warrior-heroes covered in pictorial tattoos included lions, tigers, dragons, koi fish, and peonies, among other symbols. In Japan the peony has become a masculine motif.

Peonies (Paeonia lactiflora) print from the ‘A Ming Emperor’s Seat’ exhibition.

The peony is another flower with has associations with medicine and healing… It is named after Paeon (or Paean), physician to the gods. He was a student of Asclepius and the Greek god of medicine and healing. In Greek mythology, when Asclepius became jealous of his pupil, however, Zeus saved Paeon from the wrath of Asclepius by turning him into the peony flower.

And in Europe during the Middle Ages, peonies were often painted with their ripe seed-capsules, since it was the seeds, not the flowers, which were medically significant. Ancient superstition dictated that great care be taken not to be seen by a woodpecker while picking the plant’s fruit, or the bird might peck out one’s eyes!

Sarah Scott

Find out more here.

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Sunflower – A symbol of hope

The sunflower is one of those flowers that instantly brings joy and sunshine to a garden or room. And in the language of flowers across different countries and cultures, has many meanings, all linked to positivity and optimism!

The sunflower endures the warmest days of summer and is seen by some a symbol of endurance and strength to persevere through hardest moments – something that we all need in these current difficult and unsettled times!

A sunflower from Chernobyl, on display on the third floor at Manchester Museum.

The sunflower and has become a symbol of hope. Grown around Chernobyl, Ukraine, after the nuclear reactor meltdown in 1986, they absorb radioactive chemicals out of water, meaning these toxins cannot get into food chains.

Sunflowers featured in Rutherford’s Garden, in which James Brady explored the cost to the planet of Ernest Rutherford’s bittersweet breakthrough of splitting the atom in 1917, looking at remediation and the healing power of plants.

If physicist, Ernest Rutherford was alive today, would he have a garden, and what would he grow? ‘Rutherford’s Garden’ in the courtyard space between the Rutherford Building (left) and Manchester Museum (right). Photo: James Brady (Source)

Also, The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower scheme chose this symbol as it suggests happiness, positivity and strength. Wearing lanyards with the vibrant yellow sunflower against a green background allows those with hidden disabilities to choose to be subtly visible when they need to be. It is a universally recognised flower and is gender neutral.

And, especially in Chinese culture, sunflowers are symbols of good luck, joy and happiness. People love gifting and receiving them. Bringing sunflowers into you home can attract positive energy and make the days brighter…

Michelle Scott

Find out more here.

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Sakura – An explosion of pink!

With an explosion of pink created by almost a million cherry trees there’s nowhere quite like Japan to experience the emergence of spring. The cherry blossom season has become one of the greatest springtime celebrations on earth, with millions travelling from across Japan and beyond in the hopes of catching this fleeting spectacle at its most brilliant.

A pink explosion! Cherry blossom outside Manchester Museum, University of Manchester (Photo: Laura Bennett)

The blossoming begins in Okinawa in January when the temperature reaches between 17-20 degrees and usually reaches Kyoto and Tokyo by the end of March beginning of April. Lasting just 14 days from bud to the petals falling, to see the blooms at their best takes planning and experience; and over the centuries has become an art form!

The tradition of picnicking beneath the blooming sakura tree can be traced back to the Nara period (710-794). Traditionally, the custom was limited to the elite of the imperial court, but soon spread to samurai society and by the Edo period was enjoyed by all. Farmers believed they could predict the success of the rice crop by the blossoming of the sakura.

Sakura season in Manchester Museum’s collection: A porcelain tea cup [0.5818], on display on the third floor, Manchester Museum, and an aikuchi (a dagger without a guard) [T.1875], formerly on display in our Living Cultures gallery. 

The Japanese love for the sakura has influenced artists, musicians and poets for centuries and continues to be popular in Japanese culture today. At Manchester Museum we have many pieces in our collection that feature the cherry blossom motif; from a stunning Samurai dagger to decorative tea bowls. With the popularity of this beautiful time of year continuing to grow the sakura will no doubt continue to inspire for many years to come.

Laura Bennett

Read the full post here.

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We hope that you’ve enjoyed our Easter bouquet!

With very best wishes,

All at Manchester Museum