Heirloom plants

I spent some time today reading the blogs of other bloggers. I enjoy it because I learn a lot from others, and I find some common experiences. Today I happened upon a blog of a csa called http://porthudsonorganicscsa.blogspot.com/ Port Hudson Organics. They have posted a photograph of an unidentified mystery bulb, which I discovered in my garden too.

My mystery bulb is a lovely hot pink, their's is an orange tone. I live in an old house, on an old farm. Life here always involves archeology. This find is a kind of biological or horticultural archeology. At least I took it that way, and did a bit of research. A search of heirloom plant sellers uncovered the plant as an heirloom form of Gladiola. That is just what I thought it was! The form of the flower is much the same as today's Gladiola, but today's Gladiola is much fuller, and bigger. I guess this is the great grand parent of today's Gladiola. Just an interesting turn of events in the course of gardening.

For those that are interested here is what I found in my research:

Plant Delights Nursery, Inc. calls them Cornflags, and includes the latin name of Gladiolus communis ssp. byzantinus 'Cruentus' (Perennial Corn Flags).  Here  is their link...http://www.plantdelights.com/Gladiolus-communis-ssp-byzantinus-Cruentus-Perennial-Corn-Flags/productinfo/5857/

Caldwell Nursery, calls them Byzantine Gladiolas. Here is their link...http://www.caldwellhort.com/html/bulbs.html

Another source of information...a rather full source of good information to be sure...Old House Gardens has some lovely unusual plants, and this is one of them. They designated the Byzantine Gladiola as their heirloom plant of the year. Here is their link http://www.oldhousegardens.com/Byzantine-Glad-BotY.asp.

Lastly, Wildflower of Palestine...http://popartmachine.com/item/pop_art/LOC+1491772/%5BWILD-FLOWERS-OF-PALESTINE.-GLADIOLUS,-CORNFLAG-(G.-SEGETUM-GAWL)%5D...

Enjoy!