Common Daisy
Irish Name: Nóinín
Botanical Name: Bellis perennis
My Story
"I am the daisy, the day's eye — I open with the sun and close when it sets."
My name comes from the Old English "dæges ēage" — the day's eye. Watch me on a sunny morning and you'll see why: my white petals unfurl to greet the light, revealing my golden heart, and when evening comes, I fold them closed again like tiny shutters. I've been keeping time with the sun for millennia.
I'm the flower everyone knows. The one children pick to make daisy chains. The one that dots every lawn in Ireland, no matter how carefully it's mowed. I'm small, yes — but I'm resilient, cheerful, and practically indestructible.
My Irish name, Nóinín, is one of the most beautiful words in the language. Say it softly: noh-neen. It means "little noon" — because that's when I'm at my most open, my most radiant, my most myself.
My Home: Everywhere You Look
I'm one of the most widespread wildflowers in Ireland. You'll find me in lawns, meadows, parks, roadsides, and grasslands — basically anywhere there's short grass and a bit of light. I bloom almost year-round, though I'm at my best from March through October.
What makes me special is my flat rosette of leaves that sits tight against the ground. This means mowers pass right over me, and I spring back up within days. I'm a survivor. Where other flowers give up, I keep blooming.
I'm important for early pollinators — bees and hoverflies visit me when few other flowers are available. My flowers are actually not single flowers at all, but composite heads made up of dozens of tiny florets. Each white "petal" is actually a separate ray floret, and my golden centre is packed with hundreds of tiny disc florets, each producing nectar and pollen.
Folklore & Symbolism
In Celtic mythology, I was associated with innocence, purity, and new beginnings. When a child was born, the Norse goddess Freya's flower — the daisy — was said to bless the newborn with joy and protection.
The tradition of "he loves me, he loves me not" — plucking my petals one by one — goes back centuries. In medieval times, if a knight wore a daisy, it meant he was returning the love of a lady. And if a lady wore a double daisy, she was spoken for.
In Irish folklore, I'm connected to the fairy world. It's said that if you can step on seven daisies at once, spring has truly arrived. And daisy chains? They were once believed to protect children from being taken by the fairies.
From Lawn to Jewellery
Daisies are among the most recognisable flowers to preserve in resin. Their classic white-and-gold combination is timeless, and their compact size makes them perfect for pendants, earrings, and rings.
I collect daisies from meadows and my own garden, choosing flowers that are freshly opened with bright white petals and vibrant yellow centres. Each one is carefully pressed and dried to maintain its cheerful shape.
In resin, a daisy becomes a tiny sun you can wear — a reminder of childhood summers, daisy chains, and the simple joy of spotting the first flowers of spring. Some of my most popular pieces feature daisies set against dark backgrounds, where their white petals really glow.
Ethical Foraging Note
Daisies are wonderfully abundant — one of the most common wildflowers in Ireland. I collect them from my own garden and from meadows where they grow in profusion, always leaving plenty behind. They're incredibly resilient and will keep blooming no matter how many you pick. Still, I always forage with gratitude and respect.
