Buttercups (Ranunculus repens) are much like daisies – they seem to grow everywhere.
Their roots are runners which creep under lawns and fields and this is why they grow so fast on uncut lawns.
They are very common here in the west of Ireland and can often be seen growing at the base of the hedgerows – at the side of the road.
It’s my theory that most people love buttercups except for gardeners, who see them as weeds.
No doubt this is due to their above-mentioned growing capacity but despite their invasiveness, they’re also a very beautiful little flower.
There are between two and six hundred species of buttercup and they are known to be poisonous to humans and cattle.
I love to see buttercups around and enjoy the way they add hints of gold and yellow to our otherwise green fields.
Many gardeners here pull them out or try to drown them in weedkiller but apart from the damage weedkiller does to the environment I do think it’s a waste of time.
They always come back.
So, I don’t bother weeding them out in my garden unless they are preventing other plants from thriving as they are pretty. If that happens I just pull them.
Buttercups – Myths and Legends
The most common myth about buttercups is that if you hold one under the chin you can see whether or not a person likes butter.
Surprise surprise – most people like butter.
Children usually love buttercups and if yours do then they will love this children’s story about buttercups.
The story is called The Miser and The Fairies and it tells the tale of how a group of fairies turned a mean old man’s horde of gold into buttercups.
I came across the story when researching buttercups and decided to expand the story a little for my children’s website – Ballyyahoo.
Ballyyahoo is a fictional town set here on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way and I use stories and photographs to encourage children to love nature.
If you are interested in encouraging your kids to love nature and wildlife you are welcome to visit Ballyyahoo.
That’s all for now.
Grace
P.S. I do love hearing from other gardeners so do let me know how you are getting on in your garden in the comments section.
For more wildflowers from the Wild Atlantic Way click here.
ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILDREN TO LOVE NATURE
WITH STORIES FROM BALLYYAHOO
Maggie Many Cats and Other Stories is a complete collection of Ballyyahoo stories.
Each story contains clickable links to educational resources on this site so your child can discover the joys of nature as they read.
Recent Comments