As you've probably guessed by my banner, I am a big fan of Bleeding Heart (dicentra spectabilis). The flowers are so unusual, such a pretty pink and they bloom in spring when I so appreciate colour after the dull winter months. The arching stems are so elegant and the leaves look almost tropical.
Bleeding heart grows best in rich soil under deciduous trees that allow sun in the spring and shade in the summer. If the soil stays slightly damp , the leaves will last for most of the summer, but if the soil dries out repeatedly the leaves will die back and the plant will go dormant until the following spring.
A necklace of pink jewels.
Teardrops.
Plump cherries.
Musical notes of a lyrical song.
I love bleeding hearts too, as they bring up memories my Nan (grandmother). She would tell us a story using the flower of the bleeding heart.
ReplyDeleteThere was a prince who was in love with a princess, and he tried to gain her love by giving her gifts. (Nan would pull the pink petals from the bleeding heart) First he gave her a pair of bunny rabbits.
(She would then separate the rest of the flower into four parts - I can't recall the order without having one in front of me).
He gave her a gift of lady slippers, and a pair of earrings. But still the princess spurned his love. The prince died of a broken heart.
It wasn't a happy story but I thought it was so fun that the flower pulled apart in these pieces.
Thanks for sharing the photos, they are absolutely lovely!
I think a tragic love story is just right for this flower. Thanks for telling it.
DeleteCute story Eileen.
ReplyDeleteJenny, you may (or may not) want to know that Dicentra spectabilis is now officially Lamprocapnos spectabilis.
Either way, your flowers are beautiful!
I didn't know that the name had changed. Thanks for the info.
DeleteWonderful pictures. I really appreciate this flower too.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you like the pics. All the bleeding heart is from the plant you gave me. Thanks!!
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