Snapdragons -- creepy

[charisstoma]

Snapdragons make cute flowers, but when they die, they turn into macabre skulls.



As every child knows, if you push in on the sides of the flower in just the right place it opens the jaws of what looks like a dragon's head.

Comments

[mee-eep.livejournal.com]

Creepy. *Sudden urge to plant Snapdragons*

[mee-eep.livejournal.com]

Oh wait - Wall-Flowers I think I already have some growing :D:D

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

It's fucking winter and you have snapdragons planted and growing??? Oh right. not everyone is doing the snow and freezing rain. You actually have weather that is kinder and gentler.
I want to know why I've not got the above freezing temperatures they promised latter part of today.

Bet if you spray painted the white or gold but they're creepy enough as is no sense gilding the hmmm snapdragon skull.

Any idea why they're called wallflowers there where you are?
They can be quite showy and where does the term 'like a wall flower' come from for describing people who hang back at dances and lean against the OH walls. Nevermind.

[mee-eep.livejournal.com]

LOL dunno if there's more than one but if it's the plant I'm thinking about then it's a perrenial. It's not flowering but the leaves are there ready.
I've actually got tete-a-tete daffodil trying their hardest, three little flowers and buds showing :D National flower and St David's day tomorrow (patron saint) :D

*Ideas* I'll have to take a closer look not 100% it's the same plant.
Snapdragons are Arrith--- however-you-spell-its and I think that's what I have. Wallflowers as they're called have that common name because they grow anywhere and are often seen growing up walls or from cracks in walls. Usually a pretty burnt orange/yellow mix.

More than you wanted to know, I'm sure *grins*

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

Antirrhinums are a genus of plants commonly known as dragon flowers or snapdragons because of the flowers' fancied resemblance to the face of a dragon that opens and closes its mouth when laterally squeezed. They are native to rocky areas of Europe, the United States, and North Africa.[1]
Snapdragons are often considered as cold-season annual plants and do best in full or partial sun, in well drained soil (although they do require regular watering...
In addition to growing the plants for cut flowers, the seeds have been used to extract edible oils, particularly in Russia, while the leaves and flowers have been considered to possess antiphlogistic properties and have been used in poultices. A green dye has also been extracted from the flowers. (Tolety 2011)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antirrhinum

*grins* Maybe you don't get cold enough to freeze them out.

Re: More than you wanted to know, I'm sure *grins*

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

I stand corrected.
Though mostly sold as an annual, proper care of snapdragons may encourage them to return next year, as they are actually a short-lived perennial plant.
http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/snapdragon/growing-snapdragon.htm

Re: More than you wanted to know, I'm sure *grins*

[mee-eep.livejournal.com]

Yep we had them growing out of the wall like that when i was little :D
those are the Antirr whatevers I was thinking of ;) I'm sure (with a vague unsubstantiated type of 'sure') that they were Biennial.

Not 100% because those are what I'd call 'Wallflowers' BUT looking at seed packets Wallflowers are a different genesis and have small open flowers rather than 'Dragons'. I'm going to have to look closer at the plants I have growing ;) don't think they are Snapdragons but I have seen them to buy ;)

Cheated (ish) bought scatter seeds this week, apparently you rake the ground throw the seeds and cover and magic a mixed mess of flowers - Here's hoping! - for someone who loves gardening mine is horrendous :(

Re: More than you wanted to know, I'm sure *grins*

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

http://na.fs.fed.us/fhp/invasive_plants/weeds/butter-and-eggs.pdf


We call this Butter and Eggs. If I remember correctly you could get their mouths to open also by pressing in the right spots.

[frogs_of_war]

I wonder how ones gets snapdragons to dry out. In my experience, the lowest flowers turn to mush and then everything around then turns to mush. They aren't meant to be wrapped in plastic.

(the link didn't work for me)

By wallflower, could it mean one grown against a wall or other wind break? Or maybe because it's tall and smaller flowers would go in front?

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

Maybe someone put them in silica gel?
If you cut and hang them upside down like herbs to dry? Why would anyone try that though.

hmm wallflower because of their height's need to be in the background. Makes sense.

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

Tried to find the original post on FB and maybe it was a link inside a link or inside a comment but now I can't find it. The link that I posted doesn't work for me either. Sorry about that.