A Single, A Double and A Wriggle
Suddenly there are plants flowering everywhere in the garden. I don’t know why it is such a surprise but it is. I must have a short attention span.
I have two forms of Sanguinaria flowering at the moment. It is also known by the common name Blood root because the roots exude a red liquid when cut. In the past this liquid has been used to make a natural red dye. It also contains a toxic alkaloid called sanguinarine sometimes used in herbal medicines.
Nine times out of ten I prefer the single form of a flower rather than the double. This is an exception. While the single flower is very beautiful.
Sanguinaria canadensis
The double flower is outstanding and lasts for much longer. In both forms the flowers appears before the foliage and push out of the ground in a way similar to Asparagus spears.
Sanguinaria canadensis f. multiplex
And now for something completely different!
My first Slow Worm sighting of 2009. It was on top of the compost heap sunning itself. It’s not a worm or a snake of course, but a legless lizard and completely harmless. It eats slugs, snails and other garden pests so is very welcome in my garden. It hibernates over the winter and emerges in March. Compost heaps are a favoured habitat.
Slow Worm
Its Latin name is Anguis fragilis which means “Fragile Snake”. It has the ability to shed its tail when caught by predators. The tail continues to wriggle and distracts the attacker while the Slow Worm escapes. A very convenient super power to have when you are a worm called “Slow”.
Slow Worm closeup
16 comments
That Sanguinaria’s lovely – I’ve always been put off by the name, but I’m having a rethink. Aggggghhhhh, more temptation!
We’ve found slow worms on the allotment. Sadly not down my end, so I can’t let them loose on the massive slug population which seems to be lurking with intent around my salad leaves.
Loving the slow worm info. They featured on a Cbeebies programme the other week and my five-year-old was digusted by my lack of knowledge. I will now wow her with my new-found facts. Thanks!
EG ! .. I am a fan of Bloodroot and the double flowered one is so beautiful ! .. does it really disappear during the hotter summer months ? because it has a reputation to do that here .. but I would forgive it that if I had some : )
Slow worm… aren’t they all slow ? LOL
Those flowers are ever so pretty, and a slow worm, WOW. I have only ever seen 2 before. That was in 1998 in Baldock, Herts.
In college I wrote a ten page paper about a poem called Briggflatts by Basil Bunting that talked about a slow worm. I never actually figured out what they looked like. Pretty cool.
This is a cool creature! What a little snake face it seems to have. I love both bloodroots..but I must admit the double is especially beautiful! gail
Wow! Fantastic pic. I have never seen a slow worm in my garden. My sister seems to have them. But I do have newts!
Oh how I would LOVE to have a few of those slow worms! I have a ton of slugs. Black ones and bananna slugs. This is a time of year in my area when they all show up to dine on new Spring shoots and plants. Grrrr. Love you site.
I was wowed by the flower photos but then that was eclipsed by the slow worm photos – how fantastic to have them in your garden.
Hmm. I got a Sanguinaria last year. I can’t remember where I planted it, but I haven’t seen it come up yet. I hope that’s not a bad sign.
I like the idea of the slow worm, but it would freak me out if I came across one. But I’m happy they’re out there.
Lovely plants and lovely slow-worm – they are so cool!
I haven’t seen one yet this year.
I really do like your Sanguinaria – such a lovely colour for this tome of year.
K
Sorry – typo,
for this time of year.
K
A double sanguinaria! Wow! How unusual — thanks for sharing. I *think* I planted some “singles” last year — hope they come up.
I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a Slow Worm ~ I would have ignorantly thought it to be a snake. How fascinating. I’m going to do a bit more research. Btw, both the single & double sanguinarias are gorgeous, I’d like either in my garden! :-)
The slowworm is in Dutch called ‘hazelworm’, were ‘hazel’ doesn’t refer to the shrub, but to ‘hagedis’ (lizard)… So in fact we call a slow worm a ‘lizard worm’…
They are fascinating creatures…
The Sanguinaria canadensis f. multiplex is now on my wish list. I have never seen a slow worm and would certainly welcome one to garden or allotment :)
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