No, not that kind of boring. This kind of boring.
You’re not seeing it? Ok, let’s step back in time. These are the buds of Phlox paniculata ‘Coral Flame’. They are lovely little buds, aren’t they?
They get little swirls like a Mr Whippy ice-cream.
I never noticed exactly how they go from this to fully open. Until I got my macro lens!
They open out like boring machines. You know, machines which bore. Tunnels, underground.
Yes, I know they also look a little like something else.
Oops. But not from this angle:
Look how they open out!
And then the petals fold backwards, like this:
Who knew?
After I made this discovery, I picked one of the flowers to see exactly how it opens. If you gently pull at one of the petals, the whole thing magically opens out. It reminded me of one of those paper things we used to make at school – you know how you fitted your fingers and thumbs under to open and close and could lift a flap to see a message? Only it has five, not four flaps, which is even more clever.
It also reminded me that Phlox flowers have long throats for moths and other insects with a nice long proboscis! Phlox has a honey scent, a little like Nicotiana, which is stronger in the evening to attract moths.
Phlox is the easiest hardy perennial to grow: once planted, it looks after itself. The only aftercare it might need is to be divided every three to five years. It self-seeds nicely, around its base, but does not take over.
My aim on this site is to share the sense of wonder I get from gardening and being outdoors.
If you would like to join the joy, click on the ‘Follow’ button at the end of this post. You will receive an email each time I post a little pop of wonder.
Oh my gosh, how wonderful, and some great photos with your new lens.
Thank you! This always feels like I’ve been given a star by the teacher!
Very Nice
Nature is so clever
If I could take a time lapse , it might be great to see what you have described! I’ll try…
Please do.
Done: here is the link https://twitter.com/frdvil/status/1019296535463354369?s=21
Thanks.love watching every thing unfold.
That’s fantastic, Fred!
That would be wonderful, Fred!
But not easy…
If anyone can, you can!
Done! Posted tonight.
Love that you spend so long studying your flowers.
Ha ha! I am a natural daydreamer.
I always enjoy your sense of humor Ali, but I was thinking the same thing.
Love this post, I had no idea this is how phlox flowers open. The benefits of a macro-lens! Caroline calls those paper things from when we were at school Finger Fortunes though there are lots of names for them!
I’ve been trying to think what we called them, but just can’t get there!
Isn’t Nature wonderful? and I have always enjoyed time-lapse photos that show the real drama of Nature.
Did you ever see the David Attenborough series ‘The Secret Life of Plants’? It was fabulous. Lots of time-lapse of plant growth. I think I tried to get it on DVD but couldn’t find it.
Womder if it is on netflix?
It’s worth a try!
I just found it on Youtube. Thanks.I don’t do TV so this will be my go to.
Oh, fab! I will look for it too!
Fascinating and I had to smile at a couple of your angles 🙂
So phlox is an easy perennial and scented. Might have to get some of those too.
Yes, really easy. It doesn’t have the subtlety of a geranium, say, but it is good for a big blast of colour at this time of year.
So beautiful and incredible!
Like a tiny lemon reamer! Lovely photos.
Yes!! Exactly like that! I didn’t know the word! Thank you – will always remember that now!
Great observation and post!
Beautiful post, as always! Reminded me of my life-long love of Phlox – probably time to get one for my balcony!
Beautiful. Reminds me of watching Cyclamen buds unfurling.
That’s a cool closeup sequence. I love phlox for their long flowering time and they make nice cutflowers, too. My only complaint is controlling powdery mildew, despite all the precautions, it still runs rampant. Every year, I threaten to rip them out, but I never do it.
How I love reading your blog! Honestly, it refreshes in a whimsical yet grounding way. It’s a bit like reading a Japanese Koan or a proverb. The message is simple, really, the words straightforward. No pretense of being anything other than it is—a post about lovely flowers. Yet I am transported. Why is that, I wonder?
Thank you Angela, that is lovely to hear. I am completely absorbed when I’m looking at flowers, so maybe we are hardwired to focus when we are communing with nature? Something about being natural foragers and having to tune in with all our senses?
Since reading this I noticed a similar bud style on Rosebay Willowburn, and with the similar leaves it got me wondering if they’re related. Any idea?
There is a similarity. My brief google hasn’t thrown anything up, but it is amazing how plants can be related.
Also love how your original post triggered me to look closer!
Thank you; that is lovely to hear!
Willowherb. Predictive text added our local leisure centre instead..!