What's up, Buttercup? On Saturday, I was with another group that did a planting at Panola Mountain State Park. (Will tell you about this later, I promise!) There were some small yellow flowers that to me looked very much like the buttercups that I know in England. Well, guess what...it IS the same flower! We saw a great mass of them growing near the wetlands area where we planted a certain kind of milkweed. Reading the description, it makes sense that we saw it there since it says that they grow near water. (The name, "Ranunculus" is Latin for little frogs.) The petals are described as "highly lustrous". Yes, that sounds just right to me, they were very shiny, almost as if they had been freshly painted. They are native to Europe but they are also in North America. It isn't clear if it is considered invasive...some sites had it listed as a "weed of some concern" but I saw it elsewhere as being perfectly fine if it is in a meadow setting, which is where we saw it.
I looked at a list of buttercups...the list showed 62 different varieties! So...I only know the flower of the buttercup looked the same in England as the one that I saw in Georgia. If it is not the same exact flower, it is closely related.
"Build Me Up Buttercup" is a great song from 1968. If you don't know it, you should! (This was by The Foundations...did you know this was a British band, the first multi-racial band in the 1960's to have a hit in the UK? The songwriters are Mike d'Abo and Tony Macaulay. See what you learn from me!)
Great song. I remember it well.
ReplyDeleteDid you know it was British? So many good songs to remember!
DeleteThe majority of the popular songs from then were from England.
DeleteNot on point, but I like your new blog header photo -- perfect for Mother's Day today!
ReplyDeleteCareful Debra, you are understanding the way I think!
DeleteOne of my favorite songs :)
ReplyDeleteMine too! And if you look it up, it was reissued to raise funds a few years ago for Milly's fund in england.
DeleteI've always liked this song.
ReplyDeleteMe too!
DeleteWell I had no idea that little frog was a direct translation of Ranunculus. I live and I learn. I don't think I ever did much about frogs in Latin at school.
ReplyDeleteI am such an expert in Latin don't you know! Ha!
DeleteCheerful flowers, those buttercups. And a lovely song.
ReplyDeleteSuch a pretty yellow!
DeleteHi Kay
ReplyDeleteThis comment will make more sense to Rick. Pete Lewsey used to drink with Tony Gomez, keyboards player with The Foundations in The Builders - a fine pub in Croydon with a lovely garden. Unfortunately, Tony died over the Christmas period. His wife still uses the pub.
This is probably not where you thought the discussion would go when you sat down to write an article about Ranunculus.
Take care
I love that you told me this story!!tony Gomez I will look him up thank you, henry!
DeleteI too remember that Buttercup song, a happy memory of being a 60s flower child. And what a surprise to learn that buttercups are actually ranunculus, a plant grown in Australian gardens. I never knew that connection and thought I'd never seen a buttercup. But I have!
ReplyDeleteLoved being a kid in the sixties! Happy to spread buttercup knowledge!
DeleteI had forgotten the song till now and I can sing it without listening. isn't buttercup the one you can see shining on the underside of your chin ? I think there are some growing along the road nearby I'll have to sop the car to see if it's them.
ReplyDeleteI only read that, about holding the flower to your chin!
DeleteBeautiful
ReplyDeleteHey r. Mac! Thank you!
DeleteI'm seeing some buttercups near me now and I love them. They're so pretty. I'm glad they made it to North America too. That's awesome.
ReplyDeleteWhen you see them now, will you think of me? That would be awesome!
DeleteFun song, beautiful flowers!
ReplyDeleteFun and beautiful,
DeleteHow pretty, didn't know their proper name.
ReplyDeleteYou do now!
DeleteThose buttercups are so beautiful. Just gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteIts a gorgeous spot, walking over the south downs.
DeleteFlowers in the wild, that's lovely Kay! That buttercup song is so catchy!
ReplyDeleteHank
Wildflowers are my favorite to notice in the world.
DeleteKnowing that you like buttercups, Kay, you would really enjoy seeing our VA yard as there are so many of these yellow beauties around this time of year. And, thanks for the information on Build Me Up Buttercup and the Foundations. I have always liked the song and didn't know the band's nationality or make-up...it's still a favorite!
ReplyDeleteI bet you have lovely flowers!
DeleteI don't like buttercups in my flower borders, but I do love to see them en masse like this in a meadow! That is a great song isn't it!
ReplyDeleteMeadow flowers, that just sounds good doesn't it?
DeleteWhen I was very young we used to hold a buttercup flower near someone's neck to see if a yellow reflection appeared. If it did it meant she was a good person.
ReplyDeleteUh oh I better not check! Might be upset if I don't see yellow! Lol!
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DeleteHi Kay,
ReplyDeleteI like buttercups, Dandelions and daisies as long as they stay controllable in gardens. I have all three in mine for extra colour but they are watched closely. Creeping buttercup is bad news in gardens as it spreads rapidly underground by the roots.
Mike used to be lead singer in Manfred Mann I think and wrote Handbags and Gladrags, an early Rod Stewart song I really liked.
I read that about creeping buttercup. The name alone somehow makes it sound unnerving.
DeleteYes, Manfred Mann! Yes, I knew he was with that group. His daughter was also in one of our comedy shows here. Songwriters are very much admired by me, as you know!
Those wee flowers are great to see at this time of year.
ReplyDeleteYep! I certainly do know the song. And I certainly know that your photos are beautiful...and that the subjects are stunning. :
ReplyDelete