Fritillaria imperialis 'Aurora'

Open my stinky beauty, opennnnnn #fritillaria-imperialis. "What's that smell Graham? Is someone smoking ganja?" #crownimperial

It's going to be lovely in full bloom hope the cold doesn't get it 💘💘💘

Calm down Graham and be patient 🙄😂😂

Yes, and I hope not @Keely. Or even stolen! If it's not nailed down in these parts y'never know! 😄

@pelly I feel like an expectant father again, except the wait has been six months, not nine! 😅

Six has got to be preferable to nine Graham 😱😂😂

Stunning shot Graham, just think if you didn’t have to wait you’d miss it!

@pelly 😆😂

@valjones-hughes thanks! Yes you're right there Val! 😄

Great photo and I love the smell. Apparently they’re trying to breed it out...

@awomanonabike that would be a crime! Far too many snowflakes in this world. I actually like the smell, I think it's close to euphorbia characias, has the same 'charm'.

I do like a charming flower 😉

One of 2 crown imperials from #harrogateautumnflowershow2018, one red, one yellow. I'm guessing this one is the red, looking at the darker stem and markings, in the same way a pink foxglove has a pink flush on its leaves as an indicator of flower colour 🤔 #springtime #crownimperial #fritillaria-imperialis

Wish I'd got some now 😔😔

There's always next year @pelly 😊 They were the only things I bought because I knew I could pot them up and move with me. I might be helping you find one in a month or so 😃 #harrogatespringflowershow2019

You never know Graham 👍👍

It is sooooo exciting watching these appear. I don’t think the ones I had flower last year are going to flower this year but hopefully my new ones will - but a bit behind yours

@awomanonabike it is! The rate of growth once they're above soil level is astonishing. I'm sure yours will do you proud 😊 I suppose it's all relative, those on the south coast might be in flower, those in Scotland just peeking through.

I’d love to see them in time-lapse 😃😃😃

@awomanonabike that would be amazing. Making time lapse videos are on my bucket list 😄

I’ve got David Attenborough’s “Life of Plants” on DVD and the time lapse photography are my favourite bits 😍

You should see those brambles go... 😉😂