Yesterday afternoon, my next door neighbor brought me a bunch of gladioli. When I cut their stems and set them in water, the flowers were closed up tight. This morning, I saw that the buds had been very active overnight, and there should be quite a show over the next few days.
A lot of people don't like gladioli because of their strong association with the dead. They're popular flowers in those big, funerary arrangements.
But, the gladiolus is a favorite of mine. The gladiolus is like the Auntie Mame of the flower world. Big, gorgeous and unapologetic. The best female impersonator in the show. Like Divine in Hairspray. The gladiolus wears loads of makeup and big, shiny jewelry. She is a flower that IS a flower!
I love them and the way they UNFURL! That color is amazing too, one of my favorites.
Posted by: Margaret | October 15, 2011 at 08:48 PM
So beautiful! But I'm even more impressed by that crystal clear table. Lots of elbow grease I'm guessing. And look at the wonderful Chesapeake Bay out there!
Posted by: Pam Jones | October 18, 2011 at 01:07 PM