Primrose, not shamrock, is First Lady's gift from Irish
But this year, the prime minister's wife, Mrs. Fionnuala Kenny, presented first lady Michelle Obama with a white wicker basket filled with 20 white primroses, bred in Ireland this year to honor the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's inauguration.
The primroses were bred at FitzGerald Nurseries by hybridizer Joseph Kennedy -- names that certainly have the ring of memory in the United States.
The primrose is called "Drumcliff," and is named after the final resting place of the famous Irish poet, W.B. Yeats.
It was propagated in County Wexford, Ireland, and grown to flowering size in County Kilkenny and then shipped to Heronswood Nursery in Pennsylvania, from which it can be purchased.
A second variety of primrose, called "Innisfree," after the Yeats poem, "Lake Isle of Innisfree," is also available and can be purchased from Heronswood.
Comments
While I am sure this is a most elegant basket, considering Ireland's financial state, presenting something a little more humble than Waterford, is also probably a good idea.
At least they didn't ask for the basket back... Susan
Posted by: Eve | April 13, 2011 10:25 AM