Slow Life Blog from the Lake District
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Contact Me

Chiltern Seeds

9/1/2011

0 Comments

 
Picture
“All the flowers of all the tomorrows are in the seeds of today”
          -   Indian Proverb
​

One of the special treats to look forward to at Christmas time is the arrival of the new Chiltern Seeds catalogue. “Chiltern” is a little misleading as they are based just round the corner at Bortree Stile, Ulverston. I think it’s the best seed catalogue there is. It’s the only one I need. Chiltern Seeds are the best not only because they have an eclectic selection and are completely reliable, but because their catalogue is a joy to read. Here are a couple of typical extracts:
ANTIRRINUM- Scrophulariaceae Snapdragon

A race of beautiful annual (strictly perennial) flowers that needs no introduction. But just a couple of thoughts. First, why oh why, with the general reluctance of people to use Latin names do they in this instance insist in referring to this plant by the decidedly ugly name “Antirrhinum” and ignore the delightful English name, in use for centuries “Snapdragon”. (Incidentally did you know that Snapdragon is also a Christmas game of plucking raisins from a dish of burning brandy? Sounds fun!). Second, Snapdragons make splendid pot plants for spring flowering in a cold house or, with a heated house they can be in flower during the winter.

PASSIFLORA- Passifloraceae- Passion Flower
​
The story behind the name is worth repeating here. The early Spanish missionaries in South America saw in the flower the instrument’s of Christ’s Passion- the central column (gynandrophore) represented the scourging post, the three stigmas the three nails, the five stamens the five wounds, the corona filaments the crown of thorns, the calyx the nimbus or halo of glory, and the ten petals the Apostles- Peter and Judas being absent. They are very easy to grow from seed and very vigorous- given half the chance they wil take over your greenhouse.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.


    ​About Slow Life

    The idea of Slow Life is to take the principles of Slow Food, which are “good, clean and fair”, and extend them to life in general.

    Here in the Lake District, the air is clean, the pace is slow and the atmosphere is calm. If we don’t grow food ourselves, we can buy it in friendly small shops, where you know the quality is going to be the best.

    This blog is a celebration of the Slow Life, with forays into the world of design, music, the arts, gardens, and my particular weakness, Japan.

    Archives

    June 2017
    December 2016
    August 2015
    May 2015
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009

    RSS Feed

Home   |   About Me   |   Contact Me

Jonathan Denby's Slow Life blog from the Lake District

© Copyright Slow Life 2020. All rights reserved   |   cookie policy    |   Site by Treble3
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Contact Me