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
Congratulations! You're an inspiration.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Have a great day.
ReplyDeleteHappy 250th! And hears to the next 250 as well.
ReplyDeletethat should of course be 'here's' - phonetic typing just doesn't work!
ReplyDeleteVP ... ok ... this is the 5th time I have tried to leave a comment on your blog .. it keeps eating me up !
ReplyDeleteCONGRATULATIONS on the 250 post girl !!!!
Joy
Hi VP. Congrats on the 250 mark. And thanks for the Fork'n Monkey nomination. I've been dreading a nomination in the blog poetry section and you've been kind enough to spare me that. Really, I'm touched.
ReplyDeleteSimon
Happy 250 posts! And doesn't Skimble look very handsome surveying his kingdom, VP? Looks like spring is with you for real, now.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I just celebrated my 1st month anniversary, so I guess I'm still a "newbie." Amazing how much is already growing in your garden.
ReplyDeleteWell done! I've no idea how many I've done on my various blog over the past three years. xx
ReplyDeleteRPF - what compliment - thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks Suburbia and see you soon
dnd - thankx and thanks. That's both phonetic and the usual way ;)
Joy - glad you persisted!
Simon - only too glad to nominate you! Ahem - seem to be attracting the bad poetry award instead. Probably my fault for a) writing such dire stuff and b)having a Bad Poetry tag. Still it's good fun isn't it? :)
Jodi - I think he showed off particularly well yesterday. The gardens just at that lovely fluffy green stage. I'll send some your way shall I?
Rose - well done! Keep at it :)
Flighty - thanks! 3 blogs? I feel tired just thinking about it!