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
Both looking great VP, allotment looks ready to rock and roll! :)
ReplyDeleteHi VP. What's the twiggy stuff bottom-right of the allotment - a project in the offing?
ReplyDeleteSimon
Your allotment is looking ready for the off. Shame about the wetness of the soil!
ReplyDeleteAll we need now is some good weather so as we can all get allotmenteering and gardening in earnest! xx
ReplyDeleteHi Paul & Melanie - I feel like I'm behind all your efforts already!
ReplyDeleteSimon - it's the old autumn fruiting raspberry canes. Could be future pea sticks, or just turned into path mulch as usual. Further down the plot I've got loads of hazel in readiness for some willow weaving...
Judith - the weather's been so frustrating hasn't it?
Flighty - too right! I bet we'll get it next week just as I'm due to go up north again!
Both looking spick and span. It's interesting to see the grass borders on your lottie - grass is frowned on on our site much to my regret.
ReplyDeleteAnna - we all have grass between our plots and a rule that says we have to keep our patch of it neat and tidy!
ReplyDelete