I often add a flower to my gardens simply because I really like it's name. In the case of the perennial pictured here it was the discrepancy between it's botanical name and what it was more commonly called that I found so interesting.

It's botanical name is LYCHNIS flos-cuculi ....and to me that had such a distinguished almost royal ring to it......so very different from it's common name- 'Ragged Robyn' It was originally found in damp, boggy areas of Europe where blossoms had to withstand windy weather and in order to survive those conditions it's modified petals became narrow and deeply divided giving the flower a somewhat tattered and untidy appearance- hence it's 'Ragged Robyn' common name.

An early spring bloomer it makes a VERY brief appearance in my gardens where it lives in one of the AZALEA beds- whose gorgeous blooms ALWAYS easily overpower this dainty little wildflower. The AZALEAS have not yet blossomed so I went out this morning to catch the pretty lavender-pink LYCHNIS in all it's 'ragged' little glory while it still had the bed to itself.