Ginger, glorious ginger

The message from snipped-for-privacy@aol.comspamfree (Zemedelec) contains these words:

Lucky you!!!

IMHO there's more fun and pleasure from that kind of unexpected treasure trove in a jumble sale or charity stall, than any other way of acquiring plants. Some of my best finds have been a small cutting rooted in a faded old yoghurt pot, or a chunk of root wrapped in wet newspaper; often without a label. Sometimes the seller has cut a flower from the mother-plant and laid it on the stall to show what's promised; sometimes the only name they know for the plant is a local nickname. Like a plant I bought for 50 pence, labelled "Stormin' Norman"; which is better known as aeonium schwartzkopf.

:-)

Janet

I used to have one of those aeoniums - beautiful plants!

I bought a pregnant onion (Ornithogalum longibracteatum) for a buck at a garage sale over 15 years ago. I've given its babies to many people, and the plant puts up a tall flower stalk several times a year. When the little green and white flowers are done with, the stalk makes a good toy for the cats to chase.

I love the local name. I bet it took off like a rocket! zemedelec