Honesty

Today's the day ………………………. for a bit of cheer

There's not a lot of interest in the garden just now - although, thankfully, there are plenty of signs that plants are beginning to wake up.  This 'honesty' has been around since last year when it was in flower and these translucent discs are what is left of the seedpods.

Its posh name is Lunaria annua -  from lunaria  meaning 'moon-shaped' perhaps referring to the shape and appearance of the seedpods. The common name 'honesty' arose in the 16th century, perhaps because of the translucence of the seedpods. In South East Asia, it is called the 'money plant' and in the United States it is commonly known as 'silver dollars', 'Chinese money', or 'Chinese coins' because its seedpods have the appearance of silvery coins. For the same reason, in French it is known as monnaie du pape ("the Pope's money"). In Denmark it is known as judaspenge and in Dutch-speaking countries as judaspenning (both meaning "coins of Judas"), an allusion to the story of Judas Iscariot and the thirty pieces of silver he was paid for betraying Christ.

Whatever you call it, it's always welcome in this garden, particularly at this time of the year ……………………..