Plant Curator was slightly disappointed that the traditional flower bouquet given to winners at medal ceremonies was absent from this year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow: Wouldn’t a bunch that celebrated some of Scotland’s amazing native flora, such as a selection of thistle species, have been a nice touch? Still, we can’t complain as it was replaced by other quality plant products: Wooden bowls or quaichs (traditional Scottish drinking cups), designed by Glasgow-based Paul Hodgkiss, were hand-crafted from Glasgow elm wood and presented on trays, also by Hodgkiss, to the winners along with their medals. If that wasn’t enough for this particular designer, he also produced the 96 podiums on which the athletes stood to receive their medals and bowls brought to them on the trays. The podiums were individually crafted from fallen elm and sycamore trees found around the host city. They took eight months to complete and will now go to sporting stadiums, clubs and centres around Scotland, as well as some being auctioned on the games website.
Quaich with medals on tray
Flowers featured elsewhere too, most notably in Scotland’s unofficial National anthem – O Flower of Scotland. Flowers in songs are usually symbolic of good things and joyous emotions. Take for example boxer Josh Taylor, who on hearing it ring out around the Hydro in celebration of him winning Scotland’s second gold medal said:
“I almost couldn’t sing it, I couldn’t hold my emotions together. Tears of joy, not tears of disappointment this time, thank God. I imagined it being amazing and everybody singing, but that was just surreal. It was a thousand times better. I could only sing it in bits because I would have broken down in tears. My body feels numb right now, I can’t believe it.”
Okay, maybe it’s not just the rose and autumn leaves in the song that did it, but it must help. For those who are not familiar with the lyrics here they are. And for those not familiar with how it’s sung see video below.
O flower of Scotland
When will we see your like again
That fought and died for
Your wee bit hill and glen
And stood against him
Proud Edward’s army
And sent him homeward
Tae think again
The hills are bare now
And autumn leaves lie thick and still
O’er land that is lost now
Which those so dearly held
And stood against him
Proud Edward’s army
And sent him homeward
Tae think again
Those days are passed now
And in the past they must remain
But we can still rise now
And be the nation again
That stood against him
Proud Edward’s army
And sent him homeward
Tae think again