Purple and Pall

[callmemadam]

Isn't this the perfect colour for Good Friday? When I found I had a damp garden, my first thought was that I would be able to grow these snake's head fritillaries, Fritillaria meleagris. So I was delighted to find a clump here already. The fritillary with Easter connections is the Crown Imperial, Fritillaria imperialis. When you lift up the heavy head you see what look like beads of moisture permanently inside. The legend is that the proud plant refused to bow its head as Christ passed by and as a result has been weeping ever since. Sadly, I can't find a decent picture of one.

Comments

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

How lovely! It's really damp where that clump is growing so I plan *lots* more, including white ones.

[lethe1]

Aren't they wonderful? In Dutch they are called kievitsbloemen (peewit flowers), because the closed flower looks like a peewit's egg.

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

I never knew that; what a charming idea!

[(Anonymous)]

Oh I love frits. Something almost gothic about them.

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

Gothic: yes! I love the weird and wonderful in plants.

[gghost.livejournal.com]

That is such a beautiful bloom, and a lovely legend to go along with it.

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

I love them. There are a few places in the country where they are grown en masse, in meadows and it's a wonderful sight.