Snakeshead fritillaries
The snakeshead fritillary is the county flower of Oxfordshire, and this is its moment. You'll find it in damp ground, particularly in the water meadows of Oxford - those lovely wild places in the busy city centre, where, apart from the occasional wail of a nearby siren, you can imagine yourself far from modern life.
A few years ago, I planted three snakeshead fritillaries here. Now there are many more, dotted about, none of them where I put the original three. We went out in the drizzle on Sunday evening to look for them - the children were just giving up on what was clearly a maternal fantasy, when I found one, right outside my study window, in amongst the flame orange Ballerina tulips.
These photographs were taken yesterday in the Wild Garden at Trinity College.
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3 comments:
I love these bulbs. They are exquisite. I planted some in the garden a few years ago and they vanished after a few years. Perhaps planting them under trees was a mistake.
No, mine flourish under trees. I think it's that your East Anglian soil isn't damp enough, heavy enough. Or something. It's a shame for you, because they are lovely, one of life's simple, fleeting pleasures
Joanna
Likes damp heavy soil. Sounds perfect for my garden! Thanks Joanna.
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