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
After chatting on Twitter to @Powersflowers, who also loves 'Roof and Wall opportunists' (as she calls them), I feel the need for a photoblog series coming on...
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI've just read your comment on the Sea of Immeasurably Gravy blog and thought you might be interested in a small piece of advice. For the longest time, one of our cats had a pee problem, and we were at our wits' end until a vet suggested washing the spots where he'd pee with vinegar as it disguises the smell. And it really seems to have worked. And tenacity is really needed dealing with these problems.
Lovely photo and "squatters" :-)
Helen
What a beautiful photo. Such natural tenacity!
ReplyDeleteJust realised that you're article title specifically features the word "tenacity" as well. Woops! Perhaps I could've thought of a more original word! How about determination? Haha
DeleteUtterly beautiful image! Tenacious tendency works for me. Please can I share?
ReplyDeleteJust had a thought about the cat problem. The main thing to do is to break the habit a.s.a.p. you could try feeding the cat in that area so it breaks the association.. They don't generally pee where they eat. As Helle says vinegar might kill smell but don't use bleach (you probably already knew that) or we use 'Urine Off' which kills smell. Good luck..
ReplyDeleteWe have a roof as such. It starts with just a simple spore and now years later it has a lovely crop of ferns covering most of it. A green roof...naturally created. I love it! Thanks for sharing. I, for one could do with a dose more tenacity!
ReplyDeleteLove this...amazing how things can grow in any conditions!
ReplyDeletegreat shot!
ReplyDeleteSuch a cute and beautiful pic!! Loved this! Tremendous work with this blog,,This is really a fascinating blog.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind comments everyone :)
ReplyDeleteA special thanks goes to Helle and Arabella for coming over with their cat tips - fingers crossed we've cured the problem, but I'll bear your ideas in mind if Jess starts all over again.