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
They look lovely. Obviously deserve that first prize.
ReplyDeleteThanks Phillip, I'm most chuffed! Last year the badgers at the allotment ate my pears, so it feels especially good to have some to exhibit this time.
ReplyDeleteA big hug and a pat on the back and a hearty handshake for the prize winning pair, oops, I meant pears. I did get a good chuckle from the title. See, the Americans are not always so serious. :-)
ReplyDeleteFrances
Thanks Frances - I couldn't help myself with that title - I'm so glad it's also 'appreciated' across the pond ;)
ReplyDeleteO'er missus.
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteNot a great lover of pears, but they do look good, well done. Gary
I adore pears. Just about the only fruit I do like, in fact. Excellent work!
ReplyDeleteBTW, my OOTS is up. Is there a Mr. Linky?
Well done on your first prize! I don't actually like pears, but I can still appreciate them! :)
ReplyDeleteThey say grow pears for you heirs so I've never bothered with pear trees. You have done really well! Val
ReplyDeleteWell done! It was our show on Saturday. I didn't exhibit anything but was a steward. xx
ReplyDeleteWow, congratulations! I think you are the first person I know who has won first prize at a show. I am SO impressed.
ReplyDeleteHaving just preserved ( froze, chutneyed, wine, jam, dried..) 70 lbs of pears I find it very hard to even look at a plate of the damn things..
ReplyDeletebut yours are lovely....well done!
They look edible unlike mine which have to be stewed to be edible.
ReplyDeleteThat's so annoying!!! Where did my comment go? I came on the minute you posted it and rambled on about Delia Smith's pickled pears and it just disappeared. Honestly, I am disgusted with Blogger today. But well done! xxx
ReplyDeleteTriplets!
ReplyDeleteWell deserved - they look delicious too. A pear tree is on my autumn lottie shopping list.
ReplyDeleteHi everyone - glad you liked my playing around with an old joke :)
ReplyDeleteFor the non-pear lovers I wonder if its because you've not experienced the juicy melting sweetness that a pear offers when it's just right? It's a difficult one to capture, but there's a good chance with this particular variety, Concorde. It's self-fertile and is a cross between Conference and Comice and has the flavour of Comice with the keeping qualities of Conference. Yum!
Well done! I love pears - and your comment above has just made my mouth water. Excuse me while I dribble on my keyboard...
ReplyDeleteHM - I think dribbling's totally justified :)
ReplyDelete