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April 2019 April 2019

palustris. The ‘Caltha’ part of the name is derived from the Greek for 'goblet', and
‘palustris’ means of the marsh. This is very apt as Marsh Marigolds favour damp
spots, such as pond margins, damp meadows, marshes, ditches and wet
woodlands – so our riverside area provides a perfect habitat, provided it doesn’t
become too overgrown.

If Wikipedia is to be believed, Marsh Marigolds are also known by many other
local names areound the country – such as brave bassinets, crazy Beth, horse
blob, May blob, mare blob, boots, water boots, meadow-bright, bullflower,
meadow buttercup, water buttercup, soldier's buttons, meadow cowslip, water
cowslip, publican's cloak, crowfoot, water dragon, drunkards, water goggles,
meadow gowan, water gowan, yellow gowan, goldes, golds, goldings, gools,
cow lily, marybuds, and publicans-and-sinners. Do let us know if any of these

names are familiar to you.
Marsh Marigolds were certainly familiar to Thomas Hardy as they received a
mention in his poem 'Overlooking the
River Stour':

Closed were the kingcups; and the
mead
Dripped in monotonous green,
Though the day's morning sheen
Had shown it golden and
honeybee'd;
Closed were the kingcups; and the
mead
Dripped in monotonous green.
On the Isle of Man the spring-flowering of Marsh Marigold is regarded as a good
omen. There the flowers are known as 'Mayflowers', and were strewn on
doorsteps. In Spring Marsh Marigold flowers are still
brought into the house by the islanders – but,

please leave our flowers for others to enjoy and to
grow and sow naturally so we have healthy plants
for future years.

And Pussy Willow on many of the
willow trees
Before these catkins come into a strong yellow full
flower they are covered in fine, greyish fur,
leading in early times to a fancied likeness to
tiny cats, also known as ‘pussies’.

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