NATIONAL DAISY DAY; Jan 28

Daisy History

As you begin to celebrate National Daisy Day, knowing the history of the flower itself can impress those celebrating with you. The word daisy comes from an Old English word for “day’s eye”, the reason being that daisy petals open at dawn and close at dusk, much like our eyes when we wake up in the morning and go to sleep at night. In England, daisies are often referred to as bruisewort. If you were to get injured, the crushed leaves were traditionally used to alleviate a bruise’s symptoms.

The daisy was classified in 1792 by German botanist Paul Dietrich Giseke, who placed them in the Compositae family (also called the Asteraceae family). However, scientists at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew found daisy pollen grains embedded in fossils from over 20 million years ago, which means even dinosaurs were graced with their natural beauty. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew also states that the daisy family is one of the largest plant families, with over 1,600 genera and 23,000 species.

While there are various genera that daisies fall under, meaning they can have different shapes, sizes, and colors, most typically consist of 15 to 30 petals surrounding a yellow disk. Some of the most common daisy genera include the Oxeye daisy, Gerbera daisy, and the English daisy.

As you now know, daisies are known for their beautiful blooms and elegant look. However, these looks can be deceiving. The daisy is actually considered a weed. This is because they are often found on lawns and are invasive in most places. But this doesn’t mean people want away with this special flower. Daisies are commonly found in gardens, flower beds, and even bouquets.

NATIONAL DAISY DAY TIMELINE

2200 B.C.Picking the First Daisies

Ancient Egyptians grow daisies in their temple gardens and use them for herbal and medicinal purposes.

1792 Daisies Get Classified

The botanist Paul Dietrich Giseke records daisies as part of the composite family.

March 12, 1912A Historic ‘Daisy’ Founds GSA

Juliette Gordon Low, AKA ‘Daisy’, holds the first Girl Scouts of America meeting in Georgia, with 18 girls participating.

September 7, 1964President Lyndon Johnson Capitalizes on Daisies

This iconic ad that helps Johnson clinch the election begins with a three-year-old girl picking daisies in an open field and ends with a nuclear explosion.

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