Isn't this a beautiful flower?

[ian_g]

And I also know that it's a Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis)

Ian G

[wildone]

Also known as Poor Man's Weather Glass, from the fact that it closes in dull weather.

[wildone]

PS It would look nice in the Gallery if you would upload please.

[Imaginos]

They sometimes come in Blue-stunning!

[Wild-Woman]

This flower reminds me of my grandparents garden. My grandad made a crazy paved area and they used to grow out of the cracks. So tiny, so beautiful. My Nan loved them, Grandad said they were weeds but she always won! Happy days. Sorry-just stirred some nice memories for me.

[henrya]

Quote
They sometimes come in Blue-stunning!
Endquote

So they do - but .......

there is a blue form of Anagallis arvensis subspecies arvensis which is usually red
and there is Anagallis arvensis subspecies foemina which is always (I think) blue.

The minute hairs on the petals of the first have three cells, and in the second the hairs have four cells!

Don't bother counting hair cells - just enjoy!

By the way, the two subspecies hybridise!

henrya

[Imaginos]

Originally Posted by henrya

Quote
They sometimes come in Blue-stunning!
Endquote

So they do - but .......

there is a blue form of Anagallis arvensis subspecies arvensis which is usually red
and there is Anagallis arvensis subspecies foemina which is always (I think) blue.



henrya

foemina is a separate species in my book (Rose), only ever seen the blue form of arvensis though, and then only on a couple of occasions in Kent.

[henrya]

I think Rose is out of date as far as Anagallis goes - but different botanists will always have different opinions on taxonomy!

henrya

[jennyb]

I had never really looked closely at individual flowers before and never realised how spectacularly beautiful they can be - even tiny ones. I had always noticed interesting displays of flowers when they appeared in groups, but it was not until I started this project of cataloguing my whole garden that I took a really close look. Some of them are amazing in their simplicity.

For example, here are some that I uploaded to the Gallery:

http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/ga...mage-4613.html
http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/ga...mage-4614.html
http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/ga...mage-8068.html

I have also been cataloguing my garden shrubs and some of the individual blooms are amazing. I had always looked at the whole shrub not the individual blooms. Take a look at these:

http://www.english-country-garden.co.../deutzia-1.jpg
http://www.english-country-garden.co...s/kalmia-3.jpg

I know these are not indigenous to the UK but they grow quite happily in my garden.

Finally, let's not forget those that are so small that you can hardly see them with the naked eye. Ivy-leaved speedwell, for example. You need a magnifying glass or a good macro lense to see the flowers! See http://www.english-country-garden.co...peedwell-1.jpg.

This has been a voyage of discovery for me and I have hardly even started on the insects yet! I did, however, get an amusing photo yesterday of a very busy bee's bum sticking out from inside a Weigela bloom. This guy was really hyperactive and was covered in pollen. Sorry this was not really good enough for the Gallery but I will uoload it here.

Jenny

[Tiggrx]

I have also seen Scarlet Pimpernel with pale pink flowers...

Beautiful image by the way!