Shopping, Garden and Footwear: For the Love of an Astrantia
We've been in love with the Masterwort known as Astrantia since we first saw it in a shelter magazine, probably the late, much-lamented US House&Garden .
Digging Dog Nursery informs us that "According to (Sir James Edward) Smith’s Exotic Botany of 1805, 'The more refined admirers of Nature' rate Astrantia among their favorite blossoms. The flowers bloom like tiny enchanting fireworks: a star burst of bracts surround the spray of small flowers and splashy groups of buds shoot out from branched stems like the finale on the Fourth of July.
If a natural look is what you’re after, plant Masterworts near a shady patio or path where you can enjoy their detail. This is an ideal flower for arrangements, fresh or dried.
The Missouri Botanical Garden uses verbiage to describe the flowering plant that we're unfamiliar with but then again, we're not true horticulturalists, are we:
Noteworthy Characteristics:Astrantia major is an umbelliferous, stoloniferous, clump-forming perennial of the carrot family that typically grows to 2-3’ tall. Each flower is a dense, domed umbel of greenish-white or pink florets subtended by a showy ruff of papery, petal-like, greenish or pinkish tinged involucral bracts which extent beyond the umbel. In comparison to the species, ‘Magnum Blush’ features a more abundant bloom of larger flowers that are ivory white tinged with pink. Flowers bloom from early to late summer. Foliage clump rises to 24” tall with flower stems rising to 30”. Medium green leaves on petioles are palmately cut into 3-7 (usually 5) toothed lobes. Leaves appear primarily in basal clumps, with smaller sessile leaves on the upper stems. Genus name comes from the Greek word for star in reference to the star-like quality of the flower heads.
Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Slugs are occasional visitors. Editor's Note: Aren't they always?
Garden Uses: Part shade areas of perennial borders. Also effective in open woodland, wild or cottage gardens. Excellent along a shady path. Good perennial for sun-dappled areas below open trees or near patios.
*A volume (1 of 2) sold in London at Christie's in 2005 for £180.
And now to flip-flips (sold through Cafe Press).
The great thing about the Web is that nowadays the hunt for a particular item will show the images connected with said object. And so it was that the astrantia flower flip-flop appeared. It turns out that we haven't owned flip flops for decades — I don't usually find them that comfortable — but it so happens that a beach looms in the future. Hence, the Cafe Press Astrantia Hidden Jewel footwear; once I saw the blooms, I couldn't resist.
My husband's choice was those that featured a map of Florida. If you do go to their site, don't forget to visit the SeniorWomen.com site for our products.
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