One Day Wonder

or one night stand?

A North American wildflower, Mentzelia laevicaulis, aka Giant Blazingstar, raised from seed collected in California.   I wondered if they would make flowering size before the summer ended ... and they have.  Well worth the wait.  

Growing in well drained soils on open plains, hillsides and roadsides, it's well suited to my free draining soil and our increasingly Mediterranean climate.  The flowers last less than a day, opening in the evening.  They are between three and four inches across, quite a spectacle.

Another day of travelling yesterday for a meeting in Southampton.    Jamie's time there looks as though it is coming to an end ... or will be when the next move is worked out.  Blip was not on my mind until we got home  -  on the stroke of midnight!