Joanne Mason Photography

This week’s Flower of the Week is Columbine (Aquilegia). This image is of a cluster of beautiful columbines in summer. There are hundreds of named and unnamed varieties. Native to the northern hemisphere, Columbines, in the buttercup family, are now found worldwide. In ancient Greece and Rome, columbines were associated with Aphrodite and Venus, both fertility goddesses. In Norse mythology, columbines were associated with Freya, also a fertility goddess. Native American tribes used columbine seeds as a love charm. Even in early Christianity, columbines were associated with the Holy Spirit. Columbines are bisexual (with both male and female organs) and capable of self-reproduction. Although seemingly a delicate plant, columbines self-seed readily and thus are hardy perennials.