On May 23, 6:28*pm, "Lol" wrote:
"Janet" wrote in message

...





In article , says...

We have a patch in our garden, next to the pond, that is allowed to to go
completely wild.
Whatever wants to happen, let it be.
A dominant focus plant has appeared, about 4ft tall, spikey stems and
some
spikes on the leaves.
http://www.ldwilmer.pwp.blueyonder.c...d%20garden.JPG
I find it very striking - will it flower? - whats its name, please?
thanks,

*Teazel, a very worthy self-seeder. *Put the name in google and click
"images" for a look at the purple/mauve flower. Followed by seedheads
which are beloved by goldfinches; when the birds are done with them,
flower arrangers will be grateful for the dried seedhead skeletons.

* Janet.

That is marvellous news, thank you Janet.
We have lots of goldfinches twittering in the tops of the silver birch, they
don't often some down to the birdbath or sunflower hearts, but Teasel will
surely bring them.
I wonder you could also name the purple and white flowers that spray around
the teasel? I always had the name ragged robin in mind, but book checking
does not confirm that.
Very many thanks,
Lol- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

It's Red Campion (silene dioica), but many country people call it
Ragged robin esp where they dont have Lychnis flos-cuculi. It was
many years before I saw the later.
The old Teazle heads can be refilled for the finches by rubbing in a
mix of small seed such as millet and fat