File:A Bishy Barney Bee - geograph.org.uk - 580529.jpg

English: A "Bishy barney bee" is the old Norfolk dialect name for the ladybird beetle. The term is perhaps derived from bishop Edmund Bonner (c. 1500 – September 5, 1569), who later became known as Bloody Bonner for his role in the persecution of heretics under the Catholic government of Mary I of England.

Ladybirds belong to a family of beetles called Coccinellidae, found worldwide with over 5,000 species. They are considered useful insects, because many species feed on garden pests such as aphids or scale insects, and they are typically considered appealing and believed to bring good luck. In parts of northern Europe, according to tradition a wish will be granted if a ladybird lands on oneself. In central Europe, a ladybird crawling across a girl's hand is thought to mean she will get married within the year. In Russia, a ladybird is called God's cow, and a popular children's rhyme exists with a call to fly to the sky and bring back bread, and in Denmark a ladybird, here called Mary's hen, is asked by children to fly to 'our Lord in heaven and ask for fairer weather in the morning'. In Irish, the insect is called 'bóín Dé' (God's little cow). In some cultures they are referred to as lucky bugs. The ladybird is the symbol of the Dutch Foundation Against Senseless Violence.

For more detailed information on Ladybirds see Ladybug

For more detailed information on Periwinkle see Vinca

The Latin name of this hardy ground-covering herbaceous plant is Vinca (from the Latin vincire - to bind). It is native to Europe, northwest Africa and southwest Asia, and it can be found in many gardens as well as growing in the wild. The plant contains the alkaloids vincamine, isovincamine and vincamidine and also tannin, and it has in the past been used in homeopathy for treating catarrh and dyspepsia. Due to the nature and effects of the plant, which may cause stomach distress if ingested, it is rarely used nowadays. The chemotherapy drugs vincristine and vinblastine are derived from this plant.