Walking around the property yesterday, I was pleased to see the following.
At this time of year plants are popping up all over the place, this one below has suddenly appeared on the side of a stony bank. When it flowers, it throws up a 4 ft high stem with rather uninteresting yellow flowers. Beautiful at this stage; less so later. I don't know what it's called.
This one below has white flowers on long stems; they crop up all over the place. Occasionally they have purple flowers.
And lastly this is a self-sown Foxglove that re-appears every year. It's a real survivor, with beautiful pink flowers. I'm very pleased to see it back with us again. I'm very fond of Foxgloves.
Don't recall what the folk-name for the first one is but it was introduced to NZ with the goldrush and grows wild over Centrsl Otago hills. We love foxgloves too.
ReplyDeleteTry mullein
ReplyDeleteYes, that's it. I see it's also called Mole Plant, which for here is appropriate. Thanks.
DeleteI came here excitedly to tell you it was a mullein. We have a patch of it at the retirement property.
DeleteThe middle does look like sage but I think you'd know your edibles.
ReplyDeleteI do have a Sage bush, but this isn't one. It's quite a pleasant flower, but not one I'd transplant to a flower bed.
DeleteYou should end up with hundreds of foxgloves in no time. Our self sown ones are coming up so thick we pull most of them out so the best can survive. I am sure your pink one is lovely.
ReplyDeleteI hope it spreads, it's a true 'cottage flower'.
DeletePlease do take photos of the foxgloves when they bloom.
ReplyDeleteI shall.
DeleteLike Pip, I thought the second one was sage which has purple flowers ..... maybe it’s a member of the sage family ? Isn’t this the best time of year in the garden when everything is coming to life ? XXXX
ReplyDeleteThings are popping-up all over, leaves are starting to appear, Cherries Strawberries and Peaches are in flower, and the grass now needs mowing quite often. Lovely.
DeleteHi Cro, pretty sure the second plant is lychnis coronaria. It flowers in both white and magenta. I have loads as they self seed everywhere. Gorgeous plants.
ReplyDeleteThat certainly sounds right. Please excuse my use of the word 'purple', magenta sounds much more appropriate.
DeleteYes the ‘proper’ name for number 2 is Lychnis but I know it as Campion. I’ve red and white around the place, self seeding and good dividers ascwell.
ReplyDeleteCampion rings a bell; I really must try to remember it. Thanks.
DeleteBrilliant - I have managed to add you to my new blog list under Rachel's instructions.
ReplyDeleteI'm pleased to hear that you've got everyone back where they belong. All problems are solvable!
DeleteThey all look vaguely familiar from the fields here. I have no idea what they are.
ReplyDeleteThere are clumps of white daisies all over the place and a lot of purple flowers.
According to a friend purple wild flowers grow on sacred land. There's plenty of that around here
We have Cowslips everywhere at the moment; even some red ones amongst them.
DeleteMullein is also called king's candles in parts of Europe.
ReplyDeleteAs we have plenty of Moles here, I shall try to remember them as Mole Plants; which I've just learned.
DeleteFoxes are also fond of foxgloves as they keep their cold little paws warm.
ReplyDeleteThey wouldn't fit the front paws of our local Foxes; ours are brutes.
DeleteI love them too Cro. I sent for ten slightly different ones last year but only a few of them have reappeared - I was hoping they would all flower this year as they are biennials and were new plants.
ReplyDeleteThey may pop-up later, like Poppies they can stay dormant for years; then BANG.
DeleteAnother name for mullein--hag's torch, from the belief that witches lit the tall dry spikes and used them for illumination of their wicked deeds. I believe the second is called lamb's ears here in the Appalachians, but I don't know the scientific name for it. It certainly matches what you describe, tall fuzzy spikes with either purple, lavender or white flowers. Oh, about mullein--early settlers in the mountains here used it to line their moccassins, as the Native Americans did. It has a wealth of medicinal uses, according to the herbalists.
ReplyDeleteI must look it up, thanks. My late mother knew all the local names for common garden plants, as well as the Latin names and 'packet' names. I do wish she'd written it all down. All that knowledge is now lost.
Deletemullien was what people in the midevil period used for toilet paper.
ReplyDelete