tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13609842.post8160953448826019589..comments2023-10-30T09:26:32.732+00:00Comments on Now's the time: bud, bird, bushAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06972049290586377462noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13609842.post-81862598390491985682010-08-06T20:13:18.273+01:002010-08-06T20:13:18.273+01:00My hardy fuschia bush has a somewhat similar histo...My hardy fuschia bush has a somewhat similar history. I found one growing wild on the bank overlooking the ditch next to the road in front of the last house we lived in. I took cuttings of it successfully, one moved with us to our present house and has thrived for over 25 years! It really needs to be staked before heavy rains though and dies back in winter. I love the way hummingbirds feed at it, tipping up a flower at a time.marja-leenahttp://www.marja-leena-rathje.infonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13609842.post-42257964587551890052010-08-06T17:15:28.410+01:002010-08-06T17:15:28.410+01:00BB In France and other continental countries, sunf...BB In France and other continental countries, sunflowers are, I think, grown for the oil produced by their seeds, rather, despite Van Gough, than for ornamental reasons.<br /><br />Lucy The buds do look like artichokes, don't they! But sunflowers, helianthus, are related to jerusalem artichokes rather than the globe variety, cynara, which seems to belong to the same family as thistles. Jerusalem artichokes left unchecked grow to a great height but produce unimpressive flowers. Have you ever tried to grow them? They can be hard to get rid of.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06972049290586377462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13609842.post-3489086056579068422010-08-06T16:40:24.750+01:002010-08-06T16:40:24.750+01:00A frequently overlooked moment in a sunflower'...A frequently overlooked moment in a sunflower's life cycle, but beautiful and intriguing. Aren't you supposed to be able to prepare and eat them like artichokes at some point? I don't think I ever could though, and deny them their flowering so cruelly.Lucyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09764296105901909328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13609842.post-9645051413981949702010-08-06T16:06:54.404+01:002010-08-06T16:06:54.404+01:00Sunflowers were being sold as cut-flowers in Tesco...Sunflowers were being sold as cut-flowers in Tesco today. But I assume they're denied the enactment of their French name when stuck in a jug. The Tour de France ended a week or so ago and it is run during the sunflower season. Savvy cameramen take their equipment down low and give the impression of the racers riding through yellow foam. No such thing as a cliché shot during the TdF.Roderick Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16828395545197001637noreply@blogger.com