Jack Go To Bed At Noon
Last year this rather exotic looking flower appeared on mine and several other allotments for the first time. Having been stumped (again) by Mr Allotment Warden as to its identity, I rushed home to find out what it was. It's salsify, aka the marvellous Jack Go To Bed At Noon - named as such because its flowers always close by midday. Here you can see both open and closed flowers - making it seem even more exotic and alien than in the first picture. I think this must be the cultivated version because the flower in my Francis Rose Wild Flower Key looks exactly the same in form, but is bright yellow in colour and called meadow salsify . Its other common name is Goatsbeard, which must be a nod to the fantastic dandelion-like clock which forms the seed head. With 'parachutes' like those shown above, who knows how far our plotted plants came from. I rather like the photographic dissection of the seedhead found in this link . Salsify is edible: its lateral shoots and fl...
I think that I'll stick to the sow and forget varieties for the time being! Good luck with these.
ReplyDeletePatience is one heck of a hill to get over with gardening .. I don't think I could hold hands with seeds that long ! LOL
ReplyDeleteBUT .. I know it is so exciting to get seeds and find out how they are going to do .. my stash is very easy so if any fail .. I know it must be my fault ! darn !
Good luck and take pictures !
Joy
Happy sowing - it looks as if you have a veritable treasure trove there ! I have no experience of ordering from the RHS seed list but have had great fun in the past with the Cottage Garden Society seed exchange.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your good wishes everyone - I think I'll need it! You bet I'll be taking some pictures on this one - expect a Masterclass on stratification ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by for the first time gardenjoy4me!