31 Days. 31 Flowers. Teaching kids about the Blue Periwinkle Blossom!

31 Days. 31 Flowers. Teaching kids about Blue Periwinkle Blossoms…

Literature, legends and art bloom with FLOWERS, from lovely little nursery rhymes to sophisticated epic poetry and great myths and masterpieces.  Knowing the names of flowers, the references to flowers, the symbols of flowers, the language of flowers gives kids a blooming head start in understanding literature and enhancing literacy.

Each day in May, a FLOWER will be presented here at 31 Days. 31 Flowers – 31 Ways to engage your kids in literature, literacy and life in just a few moments a day. Enjoy!

The BLUE PERIWINKLE BLOSSOM – One of the first little blossoms to peek up each spring, the Blue Periwinkle symbolizes early friendship.

The word periwinkle is the common name of plants of the genus Vinca and is derived from the now obscure pervink, pervynke, parwynke, periwink and other words of similar spellings (see the traces of Vinca).  As early as the 11th century, “pervenke” is referred to in writings.

Some consider the Blue Periwinkle a weed because its root system spreads quickly and tolerates a vast range of conditions.  Others consider the Blue Periwinkle, with its Mediterranean origins, a delightful deep-violet-hued groundcover.  In either case, the Blue Periwinkle Blossom is among the first flowers of spring to make its appearance.  The oval-shaped, deep green leaves and the starry 5-petaled Blue Periwinkle Blossoms are a harbinger of spring… as fresh as an early friendship.

The beautiful hue of the Blue Periwinkle Blossom has inspired the color Periwinklealso called lavender blue or often referred to as a pastel indigo. Everything from a Crayola Color to the Blues Clues cat to the robes of characters in the Harry Potter Series are Periwinkle.

One very lovely and fun meaning of the word periwinkle is:  the fairest, the choicest, one who excels; the “flower”…

Let your kids in on the secrets of the Blue Periwinkle Blossom.  Find these starry little violet blossoms along the roadside or in lavish gardens.  Touch them.  Pick them.  Make tiny little Blue Periwinkle bouquets.  Talk about spring and early friendship.  Talk about where words come from and how they change.  Talk about colors and hues and what’s your favorite color.  Ask your kids if the Blue Periwinkle Blossom is a flower or a weed

Tell your kids that they are periwinkles… the fairest, the choicest, the flowers among flowers!  Let the blooms of the Blue Periwinkle Blossom inspire an entire afternoon of bloomin’ discovery, perhaps while reading this…

 

 

 

About Audrey

Audrey McClelland has been a digital influencer since 2005. She’s a mom of 5 and shares tips on her three favorite things: parenting, fashion and beauty. She’s also a Contemporary Romance Author.

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6 Comments

  1. 5.30.13
    Jane said:

    The periwinkle always reminds me of Audrey’s senior prom dress, since it was a periwinkle color!

  2. 5.30.13
    admin said:

    Wow, Janie… you have a wonderful memory! I remember it, too… she picked the fabric and pattern and designed just what she wanted! Thanks for reminding me of this pretty Periwinkle dress! xoxox!

  3. 5.31.13
    mel said:

    Beautiful flowers!!!I love periwinkles!! Blue is my favorite color:)

  4. 5.31.13
    Sarah B said:

    So pretty!! If it’s a weed, it’s one of the loveliest weeds I’ve ever seen!

  5. 5.31.13

    These posts are just lovely! Thanks for sharing the meanings and history behind the flowers! Love the color of periwinkles!

  6. 6.2.13

    Love this fun Springtime series!

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