Lewisia

Today's the day ............…… to discover

This little perennial alpine plant Lewisia cotyledon 'Elise'  is at its best just now in the rockery.  I wondered if it got its name from the Island of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, but when I did a bit of researching, I found it was from quite a different source altogether.

Lewisias  are named after the American soldier, politician, and public administrator - Meriwether Lewis (1774-1809).  The native habitat of Lewisia species is north-facing cliffs in Western North America where Meriwether Lewis came across it in 1806.  It was at this time that the US President, Thomas Jefferson, appointed him Governor of Upper Louisiana. 

It was not to be a long appointment however.  Three years later, at the age of only 35, he died of gunshot wounds in what was either a murder or suicide ...……………...