@docdieterlen@urbanists.social
Post #924054
2026-03-31 19:17 UTC
Outlining a new podcast episode on weeds and the Victorian language of flowers.
Can't place "Speedwell," so I go digging, and it's:
- Veronica spp, a mat-forming weed I pull up
- been used as a cure-all tea since the Romans
- edible
- everywhere because our Victorian forebears loved it in their gardens.
🤯
What else don't I know about these mundane-yet-amazing plants?
Anybody got a favorite Speedwell fact or myth?
#gardening #speedwell #herbology #tea #Victorian #weeds #bloomscrolling
Replies (3)
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@MostlyTato@mstdn.social 2026-03-31 19:43
@docdieterlen No myth to add, but I discovered several varieties of wild speedwell around here and now use them to under plant stuff in the shade. They have the most amazingly subtle violet flowers.
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@virtuosew@mathstodon.xyz 2026-03-31 21:46
@docdieterlen There's a painting called "The little Speedwell's darling blue", showing a curly-headed little girl, sister of the boy who was the model for "Bubbles"....
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@rooftopjaxx@kolektiva.social 2026-03-31 23:42
@docdieterlen a valuable pollen resource for the Red-girdled Mining Bee https://www.dreamstime.com/colorful-vertical-closeup-red-girdled-mining-bee-andrena-labiata-blue-germander-speedwell-flower-field-colorful-image261359052