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
The clematis look wonderful. Is it two varieties ?
ReplyDeleteThe Veg plot is coming on too; beans a plenty.
Zoe
Glad you popped by thanks for leaving a comment. I read you blog most days and catch up when I have missed one.
ReplyDeleteWeather isnt to clever today is it!
Your clematis and hydrangeas are really thriving! Just catching up on some posts--how wonderful that you and Artistsgardens got to meet for lunch and an afternoon together. I would love to meet some of my blogging friends and see their gardens in person.
ReplyDeleteLooking good as always! It certainly was windy on Sunday! xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely healthy clematis VP -- would like to know its name.
ReplyDeleteWindy again today. Happens every year just as the plants have reached dizzy heights the wind comes along and knocks them to the ground. I am starting to lose my patience! x
ReplyDeleteZoe - It's 3 per obelisk, but 1 of them isn't flowering. I'll post about which ones soon.
ReplyDeleteSlice of life - thanks and it still isn't is it?
Rose - thanks and that's the great thing about the UK, it's not too far to meet someone.
Flighty - and the wind continues!
Anna - will be telling you soon!
TIMP - TS and I feel exactly the same. Us gardeners are never pleased!