Annotation: Hawthorne & Eglantine, Keats' Ode to a Nightingale

 White hawthorn and the pastoral eglantine

These two wildflowers seem to have little in common except blossoming during Spring and being part of the rose family but let's take a closer look...

Hawthorn

• Flower meaning: hope and happiness
• In Celtic lore it's said to heal a broken heart
• Also known as the May blossom
• It's strong aroma is described as sweet from a distance but close up the scent is unpleasant, described like that of death
• Often used in English poetry to symbolize Spring

Photo © Greg Wagoner

Eglantine 

• Flower meaning: a wound to heal and simplicity
• It's fragrance is strong and similar to that of apples 
• Also known as sweetbriar

Photo © Bruno P.

 Sources

"Birth Month Flower Meanings." The Old Farmer's Almanac. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 June 2012. <www.almanac.com/content/birth-month-flowers-and-their-meanings >.

"Language of flowers." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 June 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_of_flowers>.  

"Meaning & Legends of Flowers - H." Pinkie's Parlor. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 June 2012. <http://www.angelfire.com/journal2/flowers/h.html>. 

"Plant Profile Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)." Sacred Earth. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 June 2012. <http://www.sacredearth.com/ethnobotany/plantprofiles/hawthorn.php>. 

"The Hawthorn is May's Birth Flower." Babies Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 June 2012. <http://www.babiesonline.com/flowersbirthmonth/hawthorn.asp>.