Plantagenet dynasty linked to genista plant
Agood book is surely one of life’s great pleasures. I look forward, at the end of the day, to tumbling into bed with an absorbing story. Especially satisfying is writing that gives insights into historical characters.
Over the past year, I’ve been captivated by over a dozen books of historical fiction: The Plantagenet and Tudor novels by Philippa Gregory. They tell the life stories of key women at the heart of events in the eras of these two family houses.
I’ve been intrigued in particular by the Plantagenets since I learned of the name’s connection to plants I’ve grown.
The Plantagenet dynasty began with Geoffrey, a 10th century count who married the daughter of King Henry I. Their son became Henry II, the first of 14 kings in the family, six of whom belonged to the offspring houses of Lancaster and York, famous participants in the Wars of the Roses.
The dynasty ended with the death of Richard III at Bosworth Field. In defeating Richard, Henry Tudor became Henry VII, founder of the house of Tudor.
In an age when the use of surnames was not yet common, it is said that “Plantagenet” originated as a nickname for Count Geoffrey, possibly from his practice of wearing a sprig of broom (in Latin, genista) in his hat. Other historians believe the name refers to his habit of planting broom to improve his hunting covers. Planta Genista became “Plantagenet.”
The count became known as Geoffrey Plantagenet, though the surname was not passed on to his descendants.
Genista, a form of broom still grown today, is not the invasive shrub (Scotch broom) that has become naturalized throughout south coastal British Columbia. Genistas are dwarf shrubs.
The best known is Lydia, a 45-centimetre, domed shrub that bears a profusion of bright yellow, pea-like flowers on slender, arching branches in late spring and early summer. Genista Lydia looks good trailing over a rock wall.
The genista I still have is one I grew in my Vernon garden. It moved with me to Kelowna, and then to my garden on Vancouver Island.
It’s not a named variety but a species, Genista sagittalis. known as “winged broom” for its slightly flared stems. Sagittalis means arrow-shaped.
G. sagittalis is a low-growing sub-shrub with yellow flowers in early summer. As with Lydia, this one displays well at an edge of a rock wall, where it combines nicely with Cheddar pinks, rock rose (Helianthemum) and Lithodora.
Genistas do best in a fully sunny site in a soil that drains well and is not overly rich.
Gardening with Conifers, by Adrian Bloom (Firefly Books, 224 pages, paperback, $29.95). This second, expanded edition of a classic reference offers a directory of 600 conifers, compiled by the well-known nurseryman and chairman of Blooms Nurseries in Norfolk, home of “Blooms of Bressingham” nursery.
Even a scan through the book with its 250 photos is enough to convey a sense of the remarkable variety in size, shape, texture and colour that conifers can bring to a garden, large or small, for visual interest year-round. From ground-hugging, carpeting plants through neatly miniature domes to trailers and towering spires, there are conifers to suit every site.
The photos are fine sources of ideas for plants to combine with conifers.
One photo shows a planting of golden mugo pines growing with dark pink heathers and the fiery stems of red-twig dogwood. Grasses feature in many of the photos.
Preceding the illustrated directory of plants are pointers on selecting the right conifer(s) to fit into a chosen site: Know what you want the plant for — an dominant accent, a patio container, a hedge, screen or ground cover?
There are tips also on combining conifers with bulbs, perennials, and grasses. A charming section illustrates Japanese gardens and conifers as bonsai. Illustrated too are techniques for planting, pruning and propagation.
The book makes clear how useful conifers are in a garden. They can form a garden’s backbone and backdrop for other plants. In exposed sites, they can also provide needed shelter.
GARDEN EVENT
Government House nursery. The plant nursery at Government House, 1401 Rockland Ave. in Victoria, is open for public sales from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays through to Aug. 30. The nursery is located opposite the Tea Room.