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
Sweet peas no doubt VP :) NAH must be a tolerant man. Himself puts up with seed trays in the fridge and on kitchen work tops but the bathroom is definitely off limits.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good one!
ReplyDeleteHappy Sprouting!
Lea
Lea's Menagerie
Great title...I will be planting peas outside this weekend and starting them from seed...the weather has warmed now from the 60s to the 70s to possible 80 next week.,..even if it goes back to normal, 50s, they will love it...
ReplyDeleteSo cute! :)
ReplyDeleteBrilliant title!
ReplyDeleteAnna - it's the only west facing window we have, so needs must!
ReplyDeleteLea - glad you enjoyed it!
Donna - how quickly your weather changes from freezing to hot, hot, hot!
Shernor - welcome and thanks :)
Victoria - from a headline pro that's a real compliment :)