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
Must admit topiary doesn't do it for me.
ReplyDeleteHi Sue - I resisted for a very long time. For this particular garden, it's probably the most 'right' part of it and was the standout area on a very dull, freezing cold day in March.
DeleteAbsolutely wonderful. Malmesbury? I do so love the combination of nicely clipped greens and old stone. Nothing lovelier.
ReplyDeleteWell spotted CJ :) This year might be the last chance to see it as the house is currently up for sale.
DeleteWhen I see topiary I see work.
ReplyDeleteToo true Jean, but it's nice to admire the handiwork of others.
DeleteI'm a sucker for topiary. Maybe because I think I have half a chance of doing it myself but also it's a lovely way to add structure without hard materials. Hope the new owners like it too.
ReplyDeleteHmm Helen, I must show you the 'duck' in my front garden sometime...
DeleteI love a bit of topiary, very English and a lot of hard work
ReplyDeleteLuckily we just had to admire it Amanda - totally work free and we had cake too :)
ReplyDeleteVery English....yet seems to have a Japanese feel to it too.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very English garden, there's hundreds of roses elsewhere!
DeleteI like topiary. But only when someone else cuts it ;)
ReplyDeleteYep, I'm with you there :-)
DeleteI like a bit of Topiary to contrast with the rest of the planting. It only needs clipping once a year if you use the right sort of plants, other parts of the garden are far more work! We enjoyed our visit here a few years ago.
ReplyDeleteThis year might be the last chance for a visit Pauline as the house is up for sale.
DeleteA fascinating subject, but I can never really make up my mind if I like it or not! Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteI like it... when it's someone else's ;-)
DeleteTopiary, always looks great but requires quite hard work. It sure looks good in your picture.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Thanks Jan :-)
DeleteI love topiary and this is a wonderful picture. I don't do it up here as it is too formal to look ok but one day I will!
ReplyDeleteI look forward to seeing that Elizabeth. Mind you, the wind up the hill from you sculpts the trees into some fantastic shapes :-)
ReplyDelete