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
We have a cat in a seed tray at present.
ReplyDeleteIt's not growing any faster than the rocket seeds which didn't come up in it.
(Fortunately.)
Lucy
It is amazing how much Jess looks like our Tisha. Their choice in beds is also similar.
ReplyDeleteNot sure what Jess is up to in the seed bed, just sitting there I hope? I do love your cat(s). The plot looks amazing, and if I had one, this is how I would like mine to look. x
ReplyDeleteI just love the garden and btw have an identical cat...who also likes to sleep in garden tubs and planters...he thinks he's a flower, we call him Petal
ReplyDeleteSandi
I've known lots of cats who would do exactly the same as Jess!
ReplyDeleteIsn't that typical! you spend all that time raking and digging getting the soil just right to plant seeds.. and a cat sits on it! cute photo!
ReplyDeleteLove the pics of your plot, it's looking great and I'm very glad that Jess gave her stamp of approval for the new seed bed. So important that. ;-)
ReplyDeleteOooh can you grow one for me?!
ReplyDeleteA cat can't resist a patch of carefully prepared soil - particularly if it's in the sun. An open newspaper on a table is a close second!
ReplyDeleteLucy - Jess is growing though. According to the vet yesterday our little scrap's now a half kilo overweight. Shome mishtake shurely?
ReplyDeleteDeb - Tee hee. Must look out for your Tisha!
TIMP - that's so nice of you to say Louise thank you! xx
Sandi - that's made me laugh...
Flighty - yes, but it still makes them endearing when they do it!
Matron - thanks. It made me giggle when she did it - you can't be angry with her even after all that hard work :)
Yolanda - I knew you would approve. I'm sure the Bliss Team do the same thing sometimes?
Suburbia - we also do Tabby...
EG - Ah bottom scanning the newspaper. Cats are so talented aren't they? ;)
This looks lovely. Ahhhhh JESS! I want to snuggle Jess and sniff her toes. Are they cheesy? Are they? Ah go on, humour me. Are they? I bet they are.
ReplyDeleteAhhh yes, cheesy toes they are Helena.
ReplyDeleteSkimbles a foot fetishist too ;)