Last night whilst luxuriating in my muddy / gravelly bath, perusing the April edition of Gardener’s World, I came upon a letter from a reader asking for a plant to be identified as possibly Red Cowslips.
Well, you could have knocked me down with a feather, wrapped me up in a fish paste sandwich & called me Norman!
The Tidy Garden ‘Apple tree bed’ this year is riddled with the same plants. Only the other day Mr TG & I were scratching our heads (Mr TG scratched his more gently than mine for fear of rubbing away the few remaining hairs he owns) wondering where on earth they had come from. Each spring this bed is carpeted in traditional yellow cowslips & gold-laced primulas, last year I did split the cowslips up & replanted the babies and this is the result.
They’re everywhere I tells yer!
Ignore the Poly’ in the bottom left corner, that’s only just gone in…but you can see the reddy / orange glow top left & right.
Whatever they are, they’re gorgeous.
If all that wasn’t bizarre enough, then here are the results of some cowslip seeds that I sowed 2 years ago (ignore that 2007 label, that’s the year the horse chestnut tree in this pot was planted by my son). Yes, there’s 2 teeny cowslips but also these not so ‘cowslip-looking’ …. er…cowslips.
I collected the seeds from the plants in the shady side of the garden, sprinkled them in a trough & just left them to see what would happen. Earlier this year I potted up the tiny plantlets & this was the result.
On the assumption that these are also new plants, I shall name these ‘Not-So-Cowslipicus-Looking Janeicus Whocaresicus’ and would ask you politely to form an orderly queue whilst placing your orders. Thank you.
9 comments:
I'm loving your new babies Jane! Primulas by nature are promiscuous therefore resultant seedlings are often very attractive. Beauty they say is in the eye of the beholder - at this moment I am the beheld :)
Very pretty and love the names you are calling them will have to order some of them from the garden centre and see if they can find these little beauties it will be good for a laugh anyway. Love Alison xx
Well, I don't know what to make of it. What happened to the ethereal little cowslip growing wild in the hedgerows? I haven't seen one forever.
You're funny but your garden is just beautiful!
I love your new babies, whatever their parents have been up to!
The more Primulas you have, the more scope for unusual offspring and new colour combinations. With your new greenhouse in mind, are you starting big production now?
Hi Norman, I'd suggest hot water and bubbles for your next bath. You'll get altogether better results. Dave
Put me down for 10. Love them!
Well whatever they are they are lovely and I suspect it you tried to reproduce them you wouldn't do very well.
How fun! Never having grown these, I didn't realize that they were "promiscuous" as Angie said. Now I understand - but I love your lovelies - and the name is fabulous!
Post a comment