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Karen Louise Hodgson's avatar

I love flowers. In another life, I was a florist, and I hold a Level 2 City and Guilds qualification.

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Jen🧚's avatar

Oh wow!!! I bet you can teach me a whole lot of new flower names!!! What are your favorites?

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Karen Louise Hodgson's avatar

Lisianthus because they look a little like miniature roses, freesias for their scent, genesta (broom) for its scent, gerbera (barbaton daisy) for their sunny appearance. There’s another I like, it looks like green Pom poms, I’ll have to look it up, as its name escapes, except it’s something barbatus. Which I believe means wild, as the botanical name for old man’s beard is clematis barbatus.

Buddleia is another nice one for bees and butterflies, though it is invasive and fast growing. There are two types, globosa which has bright yellow ball like flowers, and the more commonly sighted davidii which is the white or purple cone flower variety. It is named davidii after Pere David Armand, who discovered it, and other plants. He also described the giant panda to the West, before we were aware of such a bear. If you’re interested in plant history, look for Phillippa Gregory’s Tradescant Trilogy. They are a biography of the 16th C royal gardener John Tradescant, who lived in Lambeth, London, in what sounds like a fabulous house called The Ark. Sadly demolished in the 19thC, but next door to Lambeth Palace, there is a redundant church which houses The Museum of Garden History, which has a lot of information on the family. Tradescant was responsible for bringing us the Spanish (Horse) Chestnut. Until I read his books, I hadn’t realised there were two strains, one with white flowers bears fruit (conker), and the other, with pink flowers bears blind conker shells. When they both flower in Spring, they are known as Ascension Candle trees, as it is around Ascension Day that this happens.

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Jen🧚's avatar

Looking these all up now

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Karen Louise Hodgson's avatar

I’ve remembered the green Pom Pom plant. Dianthus Barbatus. Related to Carnations, and Pinks, also Sweet William, the latter have the most amazing scent.

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Julie Wise's avatar

Such delight in your post today. Thanks for sharing your experience.

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Jen🧚's avatar

Thanks Julie. It's somewhat relaxing to read normal regular events isn't it?

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Julie Wise's avatar

The extraordinary moments in an ordinary day. ❤️

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Jen🧚's avatar

Yes!

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Ángel Michel's avatar

Isn’t it lovely when the universe helps us to unexpectedly turn in the “wrong” direction, and we end up stumbling upon the loveliest of moments 🥰 💐 🌈 . I love this Jen. I’ve had some moments like these, and they are unforgettable. The universe handing you a beauty with love. 😇 wow. 🫶🏻

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Jen🧚's avatar

Are my angels working then? 🥰

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Ángel Michel's avatar

Definitely 🥰😇

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Mary Denise Lyons's avatar

I've learned a new flower today! 🌺

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Jen🧚's avatar

And if you read the comments above you will learn more!

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Reena S's avatar

I love that flower.used to paint them at spring

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