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
Good crop - anyone would think you were in the US!
ReplyDeleteThanks Helen - they did go a bit mad this year. I shall be looking to our American blogging pals for recipes ;)
ReplyDeleteWow, they're wonderful. Well done you. And they'll make a lovely autumn display.
ReplyDeleteHi CJ - this was going to be my post for Halloween, but I found something rather marvellous to show you instead whilst in Wales last week!
DeleteThey look good, what variety are they. I grew a mini variety one year but haven't since. Perhaps next year. Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteHi Flighty - they're Jack be Little and the size is perfect for us. I'm going to try and recreate a fab squash salad I had at the Yeo Valley Organic Garden a couple of weeks ago.
DeleteMy Nepalese allotment neighbour wants to try this variety next year too!
Lovely display have a good rest of week and weekend
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda, you too
ReplyDeleteNow that's a seriously good haul and the purple really enhances their golden glow VP. Flighty took the words out of my mouth asking about which variety they are,
ReplyDeleteHi Anna, I love the smaller squash - perfect for just NAH and me :)
DeleteVery colourful. Guess they are the ones that were rampant!
ReplyDeleteVery nice!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful color!
Lea
Thanks Lea - BB it's Salad Days tomorrow :)
DeleteHah that should be NB - Damn autocorrect!
DeleteLovely photo and good harvest. I have never attempted growing squash, haven’t really got the right garden for it but I like eating them :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Helene - I hope to feature them in a seasonal recipe soon :)
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