I wanted this week's vase to be a modest, pure and simple affair. I was going to say Nasturtiums, pure and simple. However nothing is that every straight forward...Nasturtium is in fact watercress. The flowers in the little vase are Tropaeolum. However in my quest to find out more about this flower I came across an interesting site: A Digital Botanic Garden, which gave the common name of Lark's Heel.
The little vase another attractive stone ware vase with the most beautiful 'Japanese' shape, bought from a charity shop.
There can be no special variety name, as I had 'scrumped' 5 seeds last year. They had rattled around the car, then been planted all together in a pot, and when they germinated the plants were plonked in a bare spot.
As we sat on the Patio yesterday having our morning coffee, I watched a cabbage white butterfly lay its eggs under the leaves, which explains the holes, as the little caterpillars feast on the leaves and flowers. Then I went closer on my hand and knees and marveled at the flowers. When I returned to the table, Mr S said, I hope you have washed your hands. You can guess what I had been doing! If not you are not a gardener.
Not only do the leaves have a characteristic structure with the petiole attachment, the nectar spur behind has an elegant curve, hence the name Lark's heel, yes I see it now!
There is is a complicated structure, and the petals look like creased chiffon.
Its such a shame that they grown so low to the ground, and I can see that they would be marvelous in a window box, or higher up on a wall. The top shelf of my conservatory shelves, is just the right place to place this vase so that I can peer into these lovely flowers.
Fascinating and a very pretty vase too.
ReplyDeleteAhah, just the heels of larks! What a range of fascinating info you gave us about nasturtiums - one learns so much from blogging! Yours are such a nice soft colour - very pretty! Mine were a partial failure this year - actually, no it was me that failed them! They were doing brilliantly in baskets and then - poof! my back was turned and they had all dried up and gone to nasturtium heaven... :( There's a lesson in there for next year... Meant to ask you - what was the soil conditioner you had bought and where did you get it from?
ReplyDeleteYour experience probably means than mine are best staying in the soil!
DeleteIt is called Soil Improver/Peat Free compost from Fairview in Evesham: http://www.fairviewlandscapingsupplies.co.uk/peatfree.html . I bought 2 cubic metres, but really one would have done for my sized garden. Sold half to a neighbour, and keeping one half to make into potting compost next year. I just googled it and shopped around. Its the carriage which adds to the price.
The petals do look like creased chiffon. Very pretty Nicole!
ReplyDeleteOops, sorry Noelle for getting your name confused.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful colour!
ReplyDeleteI love these flowers and had not thought to use them in a vase....it is a beauty and I love looking deep into these flowers....fascinating info about them.
ReplyDeleteThey're wonderful flowers and deserving of more attention and respect than they generally receive. Although I regularly admire how they mix with the plants in my front garden, I've never thought to cut them for one of my vases - I must remember to remedy that.
ReplyDeleteThe Nasturtiums are so cute in the dark stoneware vase, it would go with most flower colors. I especially like the red bee guide streaks leading into the throat of the flowers, they can be very dramatic. I hadn't heard the cute Lark's Heel common name before. I like the Alaska mix that has variegated leaves too. And I like to put the flowers in salad, they have a nice peppery floral taste. I had to smile at the commenter calling you Nicole, my daughter is also named Noelle and that happened so many times, even her grandma did it!
ReplyDeleteI love the bee guides too. I think one of the seeds must have been given a little of the Alaska DNA as I have one plant with spotted leaves. Yes us Noelles also have to get over being called Noel too! I love my name though. Shall try some of the flowers and leaves. I want to make some Piccalilli with the seeds and Romanesco as soon it comes into the local greengrocer...but will that be too chichi?
DeleteNasturtiums are so sunny and cheerful and I love the way they conveniently self seed at the allotment Noelle. I've never heard them called 'Lark's Heel' before but your excellent photo illustrates the explanation well.
ReplyDeleteThose nasturtiums are wonderful all on their own! I love nasturtiums, but I've never run onto the name Lark's Heels before - it seems perfect ;-)
ReplyDeleteI am starting to collect country names for my plants...just another quirky thing, but it brings a lovely every day dimension to my passion for plants.
DeleteAlways remember the nasturtiums scrambling prettily over the path edges in Monet's wonderful garden.
ReplyDeleteHeather :)