[jordanjm]

I was just pondering the idea of what are some good alternative plant badges for those of us in other areas of the world than Europe, and the U.K.? Since many of us do not have direct access to the European badges. What are some good alternatives both for plants similar to traditional plant badges, and for others which will look nice.

I'll start by saying I know that boxwood is a plant badge which is traditional, and available in the Rocky Mountains of North America.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Generally speaking I believe it is possible to purchase faux plant badges-- you might try one of your local craft stores-- I have a sprig of holly that I bought for about a buck or two several years ago from Moskatells in Los Angeles.

[Semiomniscient]

Originally Posted by jordanjm

I was just pondering the idea of what are some good alternative plant badges for those of us in other areas of the world than Europe, and the U.K.? Since many of us do not have direct access to the European badges. What are some good alternatives both for plants similar to traditional plant badges, and for others which will look nice.

I'll start by saying I know that boxwood is a plant badge which is traditional, and available in the Rocky Mountains of North America.

I'm pretty sure that blueberry will suffice for bilberry in the Buchanan plant badge.

I am also curious how to preserve real plant badges. I've heard such things as dipping flowers in wax to preserve them, will this carry true for plant badges?

[Zardoz]

I don't know if every clan offers one, but my wife got a metal plant badge frpm her clan society;

[piperdbh]

I'd say if you can't obtain a real or silk version of the clan plant badge, and you really want something stuck in your cap, then a silk version of your state flower, which for Utah is the Sego lily

would work just fine. Barring that, a silk dandelion looks really nice.

By the way, florist shops are a good source for silk flowers.

[Semiomniscient]

Originally Posted by piperdbh

I'd say if you can't obtain a real or silk version of the clan plant badge, and you really want something stuck in your cap, then a silk version of your state flower, which for Utah is the Sego lily

would work just fine. Barring that, a silk dandelion looks really nice.

By the way, florist shops are a good source for silk flowers.

HAHA! I'm in Louisiana and I'd look like some kind of goober with a big ole' magnolia stuck in my bonnet. But for those whose state flowers are of reasonable size, I think this is a great idea, especially if you are in your state's tartan.

[fluter]

Originally Posted by Semiomniscient

HAHA! I'm in Louisiana and I'd look like some kind of goober with a big ole' magnolia stuck in my bonnet.

Does it actually specify grandiflora, or will any ol' magnolia do?

I think you could pull it off, but you may not want to.

[Semiomniscient]

Originally Posted by fluter

Does it actually specify grandiflora, or will any ol' magnolia do?

I think you could pull it off, but you may not want to.

I only know of one magnolia that is the state flower and it's big... so yeah... and actually I don't think it'd even be possible considering the stem would likely bend, tear, or break my cockade or the badge. :-)

[MacBean]

Originally Posted by jordanjm

I'll start by saying I know that boxwood is a plant badge which is traditional, and available in the Rocky Mountains of North America.

Boxwood is available in many east coast gardens and parks. However, this one puzzles me, as I thought Clan Chattan generally used whortleberry, a heath. True, that web pages do mention boxwood first for MacGillivray. The two plants do look vaguely related, but are actually unrelated and distinct. The heaths often have edible berries while boxwood is seriously toxic throughout and smells like cat piss, but makes a great hedge, though susceptible to diseases.

There are lots of whortleberry relatives commonly available in many regions, including blueberry, cranberry, lingonberry, and barberry, or even bearberry (kinikinik) and dozens of other low-to middle growing, small woody plants with round edible berries with small evergreen leaves.

[MacBean]

er, forgot, whortleberries look live the picture in my avatar.