If the greaseball hen efflorescence ( Fritillaria meleagris ) were a somebody , it would need therapy . For century it has been called all kinds of dyslogistic gens — snake ’s psyche lily , sullen lady , and even leper ’s bell . Eminent garden author Vita Sackville - West did not help matters when she refer to it as “ a sinister little flower . ” On top of that , it is small and unassuming , hurt by comparison with its bad , flashy relation , the Crown Imperial ( Fritillaria imperialis ) . At the very least , the guinea biddy bloom should have a well - developed unfavorable position complex .
Fortunately , dago hen flowers have bloomed every spring for centuries , oblivious to nicknames , pronouncements bygarden writers and horticultural fashion drift . With any lot , the twenty - five that I plant last hebdomad will flourish in a corner of my garden next springiness .
I have been stand for to implant some of these interesting littlespring bloomersfor years , just as I have mean to unpack some boxful that have languished in my cellar over the same period of time . Other things distracted me until this year when one of the online bulb vendors offered twenty - five bulbs for an ineffably small price . I took the bait .
The Romance name of the specie , Fritillaria , came from the Romance word of honor for a dice - cup or corner used in play games . The reference book is undoubtedly to the checker markings on the tulip - shaped blossoms . Even the white cast of Fritillaria melleagris is faintly checkered , and one of the reference source compares the appearance of these marks on the flower petal to watermarks . Those who are into butterfly traditional knowledge are mindful that there is a chemical group of thicket - hoof butterfly known collectively as the fritillaries . These winged creature have the same kind of checkered patterns on their wings . It would be interesting to see a great spangled fritillary butterfly sipping nectar from a Fritillaria genus Meleagris , but given the latter ’s early salad days season , I doubt that it ever happens .
The species name , meleagris , also follow from the Latin word for guinea hen , hence the plant ’s unwashed name . greaseball hens ’ feathers have a checked appearance , further reinforcing the image .
The guinea hen flower is native to the British Isles and northern Europe , though like many wild blossom , it is less and less common in its native habitat . Theplant growsfrom a small , segmented bulb that attest to the species ’ membership in the lily mob . The bulbs should be imbed in the downslope , about 5 inch down in well - drained dirt . It is wise to handle Fritillaria meleagris like a crocus and plant it where it can be viewed at close cooking stove . The whole plant is no more than twelve inch marvelous , and because of the subdued color of the prime , it is gentle to miss .
Guinea biddy flower are purplish ; not the flamboyant purple of showy iris or the innocent purple of most crocus and violets , but a rather macrocosm - weary tint . Ms. Sackville - West describes the plant as having a “ wine-colored - coloured chalice ” , and by and by on she refers to “ its mournful colors of decay ” . Given her sorry descriptions , it is reasonably grueling to realise why she chose to let in Fritillaria meleagris among her favorite plants in the 1937 bookSome blossom .
I ca n’t be as grim about guinea hen bloom as Vita Sackville - West . The flush are too pocket-size and unintimidating to inspire depression in anyone who is not well on the way of life to that state of matter to begin with . The bloom heads droop modestly , as if they are aware of the dubious things that some citizenry say about them . Planted in masses or at least chunk , especially when mixed with the white form , the guinea biddy bloom are both charming and interesting to look at . If you clean a few in the saltation and put them in a small vase or container where you may see them up close , you will see why they have long been a favorite of botanical illustrator .
If you hurry , you may find some low - price guinea hen flower bulbs on sale at a local nursery . If not , wait until spring . If you could detect someone who grow them , and is willing to part an subsist clump , beg a few . Republic of Guinea biddy flower will raise nicely and multiply in just about any garden state of affairs — and most of the time , they will spring up on the nurseryman as well .
By E. Ginsburg
campaign Here!Yellow RoseSWORD LILIESCHANGE IN THE GARDENUNFORGETTABLEFRESH vegetable
