Kia hora te manno
Kia whakapapa paumamu te moana
Kia tere te Karohirohi

May the calm be widespread
May the sea glisten like the greenstone
And may the glimmer of summer dance across your pathways

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Reminds me of ~

a junior version of the flower in the movie "Little shop of horrors" well kinda.

I have been wanting a Fritillaria for quite some time, and by chance the garden center had just received a delivery of a few, when I was in there yesterday.

I pondered over where to plant my new baby, and decided to put it in the planter right outside our front door. It is keeping company with some native ferns and I think a native columbine.

Fritillaria meleagris (Snake's Head Fritillary, Checkered Daffodil, Frog-cup, Guinea-hen Flower, Leper Lily, Snake's Head (the original English name) or (in northern Europe) simply Fritillary) is a Fritillary, a flower from the family Liliaceae.

The flower has a chequered reddish-brown, purple, white and grey colouration, sometimes mostly white. It flowers from March to May and grows between 15 and 40 cm in height. It has a round bulb, about 2cm in diameter which contains poisonous alkaloids.



11 comments:

tina said...

Perfect timing for your visit. Glad you got one. It is sweet.

Unknown said...

You really got lucky getting there at that time. It's very pretty and different! I like it.

Cathy S. said...

It's very pretty, looks a bit unusual and I am all for that.

Phoenix C. said...

I've always loved these plants, and have bought them over the years, but they have all failed to come up in the second year. I wonder if it is snails and slugs?

Blossom said...

A checkered flower. What's next? Oh I love all these beauty which I've never laid eyes on before. I love it, Keewee. I'm happy you found it.

Heather said...

That is a very unique plant. Can't wait to see it as it grows.

Michelle said...

That's so pretty. Let's hope it's happy in its new home and comes back year after year!

Anonymous said...

Hi KeeWee~~ The Frittilary is a persnickety little devil in my experience. The bulbs I planted in fall performed the most talented of disappearing acts of my gardening career. You will do better, KeeWee having planted an already blooming bulb into a container rather than the mercilessly mysterious ground. A lovely gem of a plant. :)

Rusty in Miami said...

That is very cool looking plant, I never seen one before.

Bonnie Story said...

Leper Lily! Well, I never! Your new plant is gorgeous!! I have always liked those too and I understand that deer do not savor Fritillary! Since you are near where I live, you'll understand this: It's now snowing outside. GROAN!!! Thanks for stopping by my blog!!! Bonnie

Karen said...

Aren't those the coolest? I planted some bulbs last fall and they came up this year - I have had poor luck before this so I was ecstatic! I don't know if you live close enough to get to the UW Arboretum fall bulb sale (every September), but that's where I got mine if you are looking for more for next year.