Myosotis, or vergeet-mij-niet in Dutch, is a small spring-flowering annual or biennial with dense clusters of tiny flat flowers, usually sky-blue with a yellow eye. You can recognise it by its hairy stems and leaves and the coiled flower cluster that unrolls as the pink buds open into blue, which sets it apart from grape hyacinth and Kaukasisch vergeet-mij-niet.
Picking
At pick-your-own farms the season runs from April to June, occasionally into early July in a cool summer, and plants sown in autumn flower earliest. Go in the early morning once the dew has dried, or in the late afternoon. Midday heat makes the stems lose water quickly, and temperatures above 25 °C shorten the flowering period, so avoid the middle of a hot day.
Look for flowering stems 15 to 40 cm tall that stand upright, with at least half the florets open and the petals fully coloured and firm. Stems with wilting or fading petals, dropping florets, or a limp stem are past their best. Cut with clean scissors or a sharp knife, usually provided by the farm, making an angled cut 20 to 30 cm long just above a leaf node or at the base of the flowering stem. Do not pull the plant out of the ground. Leave the basal leaf rosette and any unopened side shoots on the plant; the cut stem does not regrow, though the plant may push out new side flowers depending on the cultivar.
The stems are delicate and bruise easily, so carry them upright in a bucket of water or lay them flat in a box. Do not pile heavy items on top. Dwarf cultivars such as Blue Basket reach 10 to 15 cm, while taller types like Blue Eyes grow to 30 to 40 cm, and flower colour ranges from deep blue to pale blue, pink or white.
At home
Rinse the stems briefly in cold water to remove soil and insects, shake off the excess water, and strip off the lower leaves that would sit below the water line. Wash just before you arrange them rather than before storing, as keeping them dry prevents mould. Stand the stems in a bucket of fresh cool water in a cool, dark, draught-free place. For short trips of a day or two, wrap them in damp paper in a perforated bag in the fridge.
In water at cool room temperature they keep for three to five days, and up to five to seven days in the fridge in water. Out of water they last only a few hours. Keep them at 10 to 15 °C or in the fridge, and never below 2 °C.
To preserve them, hang small bunches upside down in a dark, dry, airy place for one to two weeks for potpourri, or press the flowers between absorbent paper under weight for one to two weeks for cards. You can also candy the petals by brushing them with beaten egg white, dusting with caster sugar, and drying on a wire rack for 24 to 48 hours. Freezing is not suitable, as the petals turn brown and mushy on thawing, and microwave drying scorches them. The petals are edible with a mild, slightly sweet or grassy taste and are used raw as a garnish on salads and spring cakes; the hairy stems and leaves are tough and rarely eaten.
Cutting for the vase
For the longest vase life, cut when about half the florets on the stem are open and the rest are still coloured buds. Make a fresh angled cut at the base of the stem and remove the lower leaves.
Keeping them fresh in the vase
Use a clean vase with fresh cool water, and add flower food if you have it. Recut the stems under water every two days, and keep the vase out of direct sun, heat and draughts. Mist the flowers lightly if the air is dry, and remove any spent florets. Expect three to five days in water.
Arranging
Myosotis works as a filler or spray flower in spring hand-tied bouquets and cottage-garden posies. It pairs well with tulips and ranunculus, and also suits small vases, buttonholes and table scatter.
Meaning and safety
The flower stands for remembrance, true love and fidelity. In the Victorian language of flowers, as set out in Kate Greenaway’s The Language of Flowers (1884), it means “true love” and “memories”. In the Netherlands it is the official symbol of Alzheimer Nederland for dementia awareness. It is non-toxic to humans and pets, though the hairy stems and leaves may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.