h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry ID: A5170024 (Edited)

[More than half of the flowers listed *close* at the specified times.]

Not sure what to do with this. It's technically correct, I suppose...

How about:'These times are approximate - the exact opening and closing times vary according to the latitude and climate of the garden.' ?

despite studying botany and then later horticulture, I've never come across a flower clock which uses the opening and closing times of the flowers.

I've just read the Entry and think it explains the concept well enough.

The foot note about the marvel of peru is wrong - it is quite commonly available

- just seen your last post Rudest Elf, and latitude shouldn't affect these plants, as some will not be adapted to being nearer or further to the equator - they would just die if the latitude was sufficiently different to affect their daylight length.

My opinion is that the Entry is okay, apart for the mirabilis footnote.

Hi, Lanzababy!

I have no idea about the accuracy of the info. My point is that this sentence, , mentions only the times the flowers open, but not the times they close. [More than half of the flowers listed *close* at the specified times.]

*Off to lunch*

I see the problem. What the author means is that if the name of the flower is listed without "closes" after it, it is the opening time.

Rather than putting "opens" after all the ones that are opening times, I think it would be better if the table had three columns - one for the time, the second for plants that open at that time, and the third for plants that close at that time.

Opinions?

I've returned and realise that I read this Entry far too quickly this morning - and now see the problem.

for instance Califorian poppy (typo on first instance btw)

opens at 10am and closes at 1600

but there are a few flowers that only seem to give closing times eg chiding pinks (?) which I've never heard of.

The group [Helichrysum, Californium poppy, common nipplewort closes] seems to indicate that it is only the common nipplewort that is closing at this time?

I've grown californian poppies for many years and they do seem to either open or close together, whatever the sun is doing - so there is some sort of validity to this Entry.

All in all, its a minefield - and I've not got time right now to investigate all these plants. My text books are in storage - otherwise I could attempt some research.

Sorry folks

Can we earmark it for later, please?

Good idea.

I've added it to A625439 Entries needing work

Please will you add A346330 - UK passports and visas? I wanted to link to this yesterday - but I think some of the info is out of date.

I made a note of it yesterday, but it wouldn't harm to put it onto your page as well.


I'm also still keeping the Guide Revised project on the very back boiler until we get a lot of time and enthusiasm for wholesale revision.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/U14449759

Erm... Do you think this one [ A592643 (Edited) EF: Puns and Other Word Play - http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/F47997?thread=8232651&post=109590963#p109590963 ] belongs on that list?

Thanks for reminding me about that one, Elf. I've fixed up almost all the issues in that entry now.

Comments on the other thread.

<I've grown californian poppies for many years and they do seem to either open or close together, whatever the sun is doing - so there is some sort of validity to this Entry.
>

Well, the validity of the Entry is that 19th Century horticulturalists DID make flower clocks based on the observations of Linnaeus.

Chiding pink is (apparently) a common name for dianthus prolifer (Chiding Sweet William)

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_19990711/ai_n13942044/

Hey! Good morning BigAl - great to see you! I'm delighted that you've appeared, not seen you around for ages.

Anyway, now you are here, I can leave this all to you

I expect that you can see the problems with the way the list of plants is shown. It just needs to be set out a bit clearer, and quite possibly with the latin names of each plant given? eg for the 'flowering tobacco' are you referring to nicotiana sylvestris?

As Gnomon has suggested, a column for the plants that are opening and a separate one for those that are closing.

I really do like this concept, and the history of gardens is a worthy one to include in the Guide - I'd love to give this a proper Update, and a decent photo or two of some of the named varieties. Of course if there's any help I can give you, I will.



Lanzababy

Hi Lanza,

OK I'll get around to it, perhaps this week.

BTW Asking your expert advice, is one supposed to deadhead buddleiia? I have been, but I also quite like the natural look of the plant with a combination of purple flowers and brown dead blooms.

My involvement with h2g2 doiminished when they changed the signing in process and I couldn't log on. It didn't get sorted for about 18 months.

When I did get back I discovered a lot of 'flaming' going on and then a Researcher was EXTREMELY rude to me in PR - to the extent that I wondered why she bothered submitting her Entry to PR if she didn't want reviews - that I have all but given up

oh dear - sorry to hear about the PR thing. This is an area we really must tackle once we've been through the transition to the new site. I'll pick your brains about possible strategies to improve how it works sometime.

As for the buddleia - I am one of those gardeners who like to leave seed heads on things in the winter,(our buddleia hasn't been pruned so far) for the birds you know. But then, our whole garden is really devoted to wildlife. If you've got the sort of garden where you like things clipped, neat and tidy, then cut it back. You can cut it back as hard as you like in the spring, which will keep it in a good shape and more importantly keep it to the size you require.

No, I like my garden to have a 'natural look'. However, done properly, this is prbably harder than having a neatly manicured patch. Mine is more like a jungle at the moment. I was a bit ashamed when I went to visit my son yesterday (grandson's Christening) and his garden is how I'd like minre to be - lots of informal colour around a neatly mowed lawn.My lawn is currently unmown to keep weed flowers there)