I love fritillaries – they are so elegant and graceful.
Most of the species below were photographed at the nursery of Jim and Jenny Archibald in Wales, JJ Archibald Seeds. Very sadly our friend Jim died of cancer in August last year; so this was a particularly good opportunity to pay tribute to him.
He was an extremely knowledgeable plantsman, plant hunter, and an all round lovely, kind man with a wicked sense of humour who my husband Alasdair and I had the good fortune to know for a very short while.
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| Fritillaria yuminensis – China |
Jenny Archibald is now selling the nursery and their beautiful gardens in Wales – for details please click here.
I thought the plant portraits were also appropriate as seeds from the varieties were collected across the continents from Iran and Afghanistan to California, USA. So I guess the following gallery is my little token peace wish to all!
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| Fritillaria carica (Goktepe) 14520 – SW Turkey |
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| Frtillaria sewerzowii (Beldersai) -Central Asia |
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| Fritillaria reuteri (GB) – Iran |
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| Fritillaria sewerzowii (Burguluk) 17604 |
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| Fritillaria pudica – California |
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| Fritillaria thunbergii – Far East |
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| Fritillaria gibbosa – Iran |
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| Fritillaria meleagris (Snakeshead fritillary)- Native Northern Europe |
**The above photos were originally published on Easter Day in the Sunday Independent (UK Newspaper).
Fritillaria doesn’t get as much glowing press as it should. Your post only highlights that.
I have to wonder about all the gems waiting in Iran to be discovered. If only the world weren’t such a complicated place.
Just exquisite – there is something special about the nodding bells of Fritillarias, I can’t resist them. F. yuminensis could be a new favorite… such wonderful pictures!
Egad. F. yuminensis is astonishing. Are there any nurseries in North America that sell it?
Thanks for sharing the portraits-lovely. I have just ordered your book “Digging Deep, Unearthing Your Creative Roots”. Very much looking forward to reading it. Thanks!
Sue,
You need to give a big thank you to Andrea Jones who was the creator/photographer of those magnificent photos. We are lucky to have her grace the pages of GGW.
I hope you enjoy Digging Deep!! Fran
Your photographs are breathtaking and make me wonder why it is that I grow so few of these beauties. Condolences on the loss of your friend – indeed, this is a magnificent tribute!