There is a whimsical old legend that tells us during times of tragedy, God sprinkled daises all over the Earth.
Celtic Mythology
I’m grown up now, but still have a thing for daisies. Sitting on a swing in a garden surrounded by colorful roses and delicate white daisies, their sweet fragrance filling up my senses, is how I envision a summer’s afternoon in heaven. Something I’d wager no one envisions about daisies is that they belong in the same plant family as lettuce, artichoke and thistles, and are as therapeutic as they are pretty to look at
Let’s take time from this hectic day to reflect upon daisies―their history, their significance, and their ethereal ode to innocence.
The Family Asteraceae
Asteraceae is an ancient Greek word that means ‘star.’ For the correct pronunciation, CLICK HERE.
Aster-aceae translates into modern English as Aster-family, more commonly called the Daisy Family.
Every plant, shrub and tree in the family is a composite. Although they look like they are one flower, each bud is many flowers―some shaped like petals, and some shaped like disks.
The daisy, as simple as it seems, is a highly evolved plant.
Some surprise members of the Daisy Family
- The sweetener Stevia
- The coffee substitute Chicory
- The herb Tarragon
- Romaine, Iceberg, Butterhead & Leaf Lettuce
- Artichoke
The Daisy Family consists of nearly 33,000 types of flowering plants in over 1,900 categories. It is not without its bad apples, as example menacing allergy-inducing dandelions and ragweed.
Richly historical, when Cleopatra wandered around her palace in ancient Rome, she possibly did stop to smell the daisies that grew there. Her personal physician would have picked a daisy clan member―chamomile―and brewed it into a tea to calm her nerves.
Asteraceae is now a popular ingredient in pharmaceuticals. This amazing plant family is used in medicines to treat cancers, rheumatism, high cholesterol, hypertension, kidney disease, and heart disease, to name a few human ailments. It’s an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant that can also help with blood circulation.
Of economic importance not only to pharmaceutical companies in the production of medications, Asteraceae is a valuable farming commodity. A clan member we call Sunflowers, produces edible seeds and cooking oil sold all over the world. Family owned farms thrive growing lettuce, artichoke, chicory and endive, as well as seed production for plant and flower nurseries, and retail outlets. Flowers from the Daisy Family are used every day in birthday bouquets, wedding bouquets, Mother’s Day bouquets, funeral arrangements and every other kind of floral arrangement.
Those pretty flowers in your garden are much more important to our health and economy than what comes to mind when we pluck daisy petals and say, “He loves me. He loves me not.”
They are much more important to our health and economy than we realize when, as children, we turn daisy chains into garlands to wear in our hair.
Their power and simplicity, which symbolize innocence, purity, and peace, inspires children and poets; and, in old age, leave us wishing we had relaxed more during our prime, had more moments, and spent more time picking daises.
I'd Pick More Daisies By Nadine Stair, age 85 If I had my life to live over, I’d dare to make more mistakes next time. I’d relax, I would limber up. I would be sillier than I have been this trip. I would take fewer things seriously. I would take more chances. I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and less beans. I would perhaps have more actual troubles, but I’d have fewer imaginary ones. You see, I’m one of those people who lived sensibly and sanely, hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I’ve had my moments, and if I had to do it over again, I’d have more of them. In fact, I’d try to have nothing else. Just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day. I’ve been one of those persons who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat and a parachute. If I had to do it again, I would travel lighter than I have. If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would go to more dances. I would ride more merry-go-rounds. I would pick more daisies.
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