#georgics

Commisioned art (125usd)

It’s World Bee Day so I drew my favourite Roman apiarist, Vergil 🐝

Italian Aster (Michaelmas daisy)

Aster amellus L. (1753)

Although 'Michaelmas daisy' is associated with sentiments such as afterthought and welcome to a stranger, the Aster amellus - known as the Michaelmas daisy in Europe, where it grows - is not listed as the subject species by any English-language floriography book that I've seen so far.

Instead, Henry Phillips gives this honour to the American Michaelmas daisy, Symphyotrichum tradescantii. That said, the two are pretty similar, and most books simply say 'Michaelmas daisy', so make your own conclusions.

They're a lot more purple in person (especially in domestication) than this specimen, and this is remarked upon even by Virgil, writing about them in his Georgics. You can read the Latin and see my sources on my site linked below, but while I believe the average Tumblr user is more fluent in Ancient Latin than the layperson, I nonetheless provide here the English version from a 1900 translation by James Bradstreet Greenough, who I believe captures the poetic spirit of Georgics.

There is a meadow-flower by country folk Hight star-wort [amellus]; 'tis a plant not far to seek; For from one sod an ample growth it rears, Itself all golden, but girt with plenteous leaves, Where glory of purple shines through violet gloom. With chaplets woven hereof full oft are decked Heaven's altars: harsh its taste upon the tongue; Shepherds in vales smooth-shorn of nibbling flocks By Mella's winding waters gather it. The roots of this, well seethed in fragrant wine, Set in brimmed baskets at their doors for food. (Verg. G. 4.271-280)

Read more on Glossa Hortensia:

"Autumn" also known as "The Spies with the Grapes of the Promised Land"

Part of The Four Seasons (Les Quatre Saisons)