This is Doronicum Little Leo, commonly known as Leopard's Bane. I first came across Doronicum in a friend's garden. It was flowering in shade, which was ideal for my garden, as I have more shade than sunny areas. My friend dug up some plants for me, but with the plants in full bloom, it was obviously not the correct time to transplant, as they all died.
Several years later I came across this dwarf variety. The first year that they flowered, they looked just like dandelions. In fact, I thought my borders had been invaded by dandelions, until I noticed the leaves. Fortunately, in subsequent years, the flowers look more like large yellow daisies than weeds. By the way, the thin strap-like foliage in the photo are daffodils, the doronicum has kidney-shaped leaves.
Look what I found feeding in the garden, a female bullfinch. Shortly afterwards, it was joined by its mate who refused to face the camera. Must be shy.
I rarely see bullfinches in the garden. Probably because shortly after this photo was taken, the blue tits chased them off. They seem to chase off any newcomers to the garden, but tolerate the regulars like the goldfinches. Mind you, they made no attempt to chase off a bird that flew over last night. I first saw it from a distance, it looked like a pterodactyl. No it did, really. Well it was a long way off, and it was getting dark. And then it turned round and headed my way. As it flew over the garden, I realised it was a heron. Never had a heron any way near the garden before. But a pterodactyl would have been even more impressive, albeit impossible. Never satisfied, me.
I used to have this plant in the garden many years ago - I don't know what happened to it - went to perennial heaven I expect! We had a bullfinch in the garden when it was very cold and snowy - and then again the other day - but they don't wait around to be photographed.
ReplyDeleteI think I've lost the plants that were in the borders, but the ones in containers are thriving.
DeleteI grew this but it did not stay...too bad such a nice plant...love the flower...I had a heron at the pond one year...amazing bird!
ReplyDeleteIf the heron lands in my garden, it can only have a paddle, my water feature is only six inches deep.
DeleteCute little plant. Love those little blooms. The bird is pretty - funny how that one refused to look at you!
ReplyDeleteIt did turn round eventually, but it went out of focus when I tried to get another photo.
DeleteFunny you should see a heron as I saw one being chased out of my garden by a smaller blackbird/starling this week. Strange a smaller bird can chase a larger one. Its a great time of year for bird spotting. I mostly have house sparrows and blue tits at the bird feeder.
ReplyDeleteI saw one blue tit chase six long-tailed tits the other day, very territorial.
DeleteWhat a lovely photo of a bright and cheerful flower, I'm not sure whether I've ever grown that one although sadly quite a lot of my plants don't like living with me and do a disappearing act ;-)
ReplyDeleteI'm very envious of your garden Bullfinches, I've only ever had one brief sighting in my garden.
There was a Heron in my garden once, my husband saw it and so did my neighbours...I didn't :-(
The bullfinches are very rare in my garden, think they were just passing through.
DeleteNie mam takiego kwiatka wyglądającego jak słoneczko, w ogródku. Może gil pan wstydził się pokazać Tobie.Pozdrawiam.
ReplyDeleteI do not have such a flower that looks like a sun in the garden. Maybe you gil ashamed to show you. Yours.
Maybe you could try calendulas. They are only annuals but they are very easy to grow and flower all summer.
DeleteJust this luchtime my OH & I have been admiring our Leopard's Bane. They're really a cracker in a shady spot, we were watching a male blackbird who appeared to be jumping at it to catch bugs...beautiful x
ReplyDeleteWhat a coincidence, and what a brave blackbird attacking a leopard, sort of.
DeleteLittle leo hasn't had much of a roar in my garden and this year I've a pathetic little clump of toothed leaves - but outside of our property it grows wild here in this part of Scotland and in the next few weeks the hillside near us should be covered in the flowers. Kudos for getting bullfinches in the garden - we had a fleeting visit during the wintertime.....hope yours return.
ReplyDeleteStrange how it grows so well in the wild but not in gardens.
DeleteHow great that a Heron visited you. Are they searching for water?
ReplyDeleteI hope not, my water feature is only six inches deep, more of a puddle than a pond.
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