*the scientific name is a latinisation of the Greek leontopódion, “lion’s paw”.
From: Penelope Fitzgerald – a Life (2013) by Hermione Lee:
“…a birthday poem which she wrote in 1999 for her eleven-year-old granddaughter Sophie…
This is a bunch of edelweiss
Which must have lived with snow and ice –
The edelweiss grows very high,
But you can get there if you try –
I know you will, I know you can –
With love and confidence from Gran.
…By 1998 she was becoming very ill...Her 1999 diary is scattered with (medical) appointments…- which she often cancelled…
On 29 March 2000, she wrote a letter…mentioning that Ria wanted to repaint the walls of her flat while she went on her annual holiday with the Dooleys in April: ‘I’d hoped they might last me out, but she says not.’ A few days later, she had a stroke…
On 28 April…towards six o’clock, they told her they were going out for a cup of tea, kissed her, said ‘We’re off now’, and left her to herself. When they came back, she had died…
On 10 October 2000, a packed memorial service was held at St James’s Church, Piccadilly…”
