About dragons and hats

Common names for plants are sometimes so much fun. If I were to call Aquilegia's and Antirrhinums by their common names they instantly gain in character. The flowerhead of an Aquilegia has the shape of a hat, albeit a somewhat old fashioned one. Therefore the name Granny's Bonnet is very suitable. Antirrhinums look slightly more fiery than the sweetly-shaped Granny's Bonnets. Their unusual shaped individual flowers have a "mouth" which, if gently squeezed from behind, can be snapped open and shut and hence the name Snapdragons is very appropriate. 

Snapdragons are normally annuals in the UK climate but because of the mild winter some of my Antirrhinum majus 'Royal Bride' actually survived. I was pleasantly surprised that they came into flower this week and of course I had to use them in this week's bunch. Last year I also sowed quite a few Granny's Bonnets which are now flowering abundantly in the garden. I am not sure which variety I picked today. Most likely it isn't even a special variety as Granny's Bonnets are notorious for not coming true to seed and this one grows on the allotment.

I combined both with some lovely Euphorbia Oblongata as well as a random white Gerbera and a white-yellow Aquilegia (Swan mix, I think). I love the end result!