Hello everyone,
I was hoping to get some advice for an obscure art research project I am working on: an installation titled “Battlefield” which is comprised of cultivated plants whose names reference military events, personnel and weaponry (both directly and tangentially). I have mainly found Roses, Fuchsias and Clematis in my search (ie Polyantha “Verdun”, 1916, Calluna Vulgaris “Battle of Arnhem” ), but would like to seek out some Daffodils/Narcissus to the collection. I have been going through various registers and have found a few related plants (possibly “Royal Armor”), but I thought perhaps within the Daffnet community there may be some suggestions, for daffodils or indeed any other cultivated plants. It is not always obvious (to me) which plants are actually commemorative of battles, related to conflict, as sometimes the meanings are not recorded, but perhaps there are some ideas/anecdotes/suggestions out there within the expansive experience and knowledge of this community? (Then of course there is the difficulty of sourcing the bulbs, but one thing at a time!)
Thankyou for your time,
Kindly,
Gabriella HIrst
Hi, Gabriella,
There’s a flower named ‘Gettysburg’, which was bred by J.M. deNavarro in England, and registered by Brian Duncan Daffodils in Northern Ireland in 1979. I don’t know where you could get bulbs. You can see photos in DaffSeek.org.
Mary Lou
I grow Gen. Pershing.
Regards,
Drew Mc Farland
Granville, Ohio
There is also an historic bulb named ‘Gallipoli’, bred by the Brodie of
Brodie in 1916.
Linda
I sell Gettysberg and could get it to the US through regular customers.
I’m not sure I understand the parameters of your research project, but Hybridizer John Pearson was a military man. He had Desert Storm which many of us still grow, and he might have others.
Semper Fi from John Reed isn’t actually a battle, does it fit?
Suzy Wert
The word of daffodils has many intellectuals, professors and learned people that lead to a large amount of names that are drawn from their intellect. One would have to know where these names came from and their is no record to determine if it has a war/military military connection.
Take for instance the daffodil ‘Killearnan’ that many Americans are very familiar with, it was a place where a Viking Prince was killed in battle, however, it is now known as a Scottish Parrish and has three castles in that Parrish according to Google. We had no knowledge if the daffodil was named because of the Viking Prince that was killed or if it was named after the church Parrish.
I’m sure that many of the daffodil names are just as fleeting.
Clay
A very good point Clay. I’ve also learned a great deal by looking up
some of the older names and seeing connections to /e.g./ ancient
mythological figures.
Regards, Drew
Good point Clay although those of us who are not intellectuals may just like to play with words or ideas. There is a space on the modern registration form to record the origin of the name which is of great use given the current conversation.
David,
I’m not in the category of intellectual either. When I was going for my
Masters Degree the professors had a habit of calling me the “Redneck” that
was really a closet intellectual. Actually I just like to read a lot and
take in a wide selection of reading materials from American Western
magazines to Pluto.
I name my daffodils after places I’ve visited in America that caught my
eye, or a few family members.
Clay
Hi Everyone,
Thanks for all the wonderful replies here and discussion, it’s really interesting! It’s true that it can be very hazy to deterime exactly whether a plant is actually named in reference to a battle or warfare, or just of a place visited – sometimes it’s just a guess because of the date the plant was named etc, also pulling together what is known about the hybridiser’s other interests/life story and the market at the time (if it’s for a market)- for example, a fuchsia called ‘Falklands’ by a UK based breeder Dunnett from 1984 begs the question… But at least for me, and for this work (which after all is an artwork), I think that blurriness is fine and actually very intersting as a conversation starter, all part of the curious relationsip between people and plants!
I would really love to be able to include ‘Desert Storm’, ‘Gettysberg’, ‘Gallipoli’, “Gen. Pershing” in the garden project! I am actually in Germany- is sending bulbs here from the Staes, or NZ an issue? I’d be so thrilled to include them. Also, if anyone has a lead on ‘Defence Corps’ by S. Duncan that would also be wonderful.
I’m planning to put together a small publication of all the plants I gather, so besides any regular costs I’d also be happy to send one of these over to anyone interested once it is done, if there’s interest?
Thanks again all!
Gabriella
Gabriella:
Import/Export seems to always be an issue and becoming more of one, but
there are ways to do it with planning and I’m sure people will try to
help when it comes time for it.
I have another one for you, perhaps. Red Cross. Most likely it is
named for the organization — but there’s also the chance it was named
for the ancient story: The Red Cross Knight.
Regards,
Drew
Beinn Sloidh Farm
Ohio
Gabriella, not expecting to find much, I did a quick search of Daffseek using “war” and “battle.” Both bring up some names of daffodils that might be of interest to you. The issue will be if any of them are available.
Apologies for being late to the discussion.
Regarding ‘Red Cross’, I had reason to contact the Backhouse estate regarding this and other Sarah Backhouse flowers. Their view is, as Sarah Backhouse (along with the rest of the Backhouse clan) was a Quaker and hence a pacifist, the flower was likely named after the relief organization.
Personally, i would find a strong counterpoint to the male-dominated war complex of a woman hybridizer pacifist to be of interest, as history has many points of view…
-Sara
Hi All
Very kindly the people at Esker Farm Daffs in NI are sending me some late-season bulbs of ‘Marine Corps’. I apologise for my naivity here, but it was a surprise to me to learn I could still plant daff bulbs now! In this case, I was wondering urgently if anyone had any leads on where I might be able to source some of the mentioned bulbs to be sent to Germany for this year, if it’s not too late? Perhaps through regular customers or if anyone knows someone travelling here? (Having some years ago sourced a rare Cold-war era rose named ‘Rosa floribunda “Atom Bomb” (Kordes 1953)’, which I then had to bring with me in hand luggage…. I’m not sompletely unfamilar with odd plant travels.)
I’m thinking particularly of ‘Desert Storm’ (it’s rare to come across a plant referncing a more recent conflict), but also Gettysburg, Gallipoli, Red cross or Gen. Pershing. It’s a long shot but I thought I would see just in case!
@sara This point is super interesting, it’s such a specific story that it would be great to include it, as a gesture against the military complex. Thanks so much for bringing this story to my attention.
Thanks again for all the comments, it’s really interesting!
GH