Little Swords means Gladioli. The word Gladiator sounds like a close relative and it really is. Only semantically. The brave but heartbreaking fate of gladiators is well known to everybody. The fate of gladioli is less tearjerking but definitely more colourful although it is in our hands too.
Few other plants offer such a variety of colors except for blue hues. However, the lavender blue shades of some cultivars are so close to true blues that we should not complain. But there must be something more about the name of these plants, not only that straight reference to their sword-shaped leaves. Hardly any other flowering plants look so untidy grown in a flower bed. But the moment you pick them and put them in a vase, you can witness a real transformation. They look great! That is why gladioli are grown primarily for cutting, not others but to be cut. Well, now it looks more like the gladiators' fate, doesn't it? Maybe this is the actual source of their Latin name?
Few other plants offer such a variety of colors except for blue hues. However, the lavender blue shades of some cultivars are so close to true blues that we should not complain. But there must be something more about the name of these plants, not only that straight reference to their sword-shaped leaves. Hardly any other flowering plants look so untidy grown in a flower bed. But the moment you pick them and put them in a vase, you can witness a real transformation. They look great! That is why gladioli are grown primarily for cutting, not others but to be cut. Well, now it looks more like the gladiators' fate, doesn't it? Maybe this is the actual source of their Latin name?
There are more than 250 species of gladioli and the majority of them grow in South Africa. A few frost-hardy species are native to Europe and Asia. But the beauty of today's cultivars is of African origin. No wonder they require higher temperature to show off but at the same time they depend on us, especially in norther territories with harsh winters. The corms must be dug up after the first frost and stored in a cool and well ventilated room. They wait there until the next spring to be planed in order to be... cut, just to remind you their life cycle. Plant gladiolus corms at intervals of six-seven to 10 days to extend the season of bloom.
If you, however, insist on decorating the garden with gladioli, opt for the miniature cultivars. They are better at maintaing the vertical position, which is always a problem with taller and quite tall gladioli. They will not grow upright without proper support. Unfortunately, proper support is not equivalent with invisible support. Gladiolus corms can also be planted in containers as long as we fill them with sandy loam enriched with compost or leaf-mould and place the containers in full sun.
Having so many military recommendations gladioli are perfect flowers for romantic meetings. Choosing a right colour, shape and size of the flowers, the bouquet can say more then the words can. Imagine the empty-handed Salvatore (Pinkerton) in the clip below with a bunch of scarlet gladioli and the whole aria would be twice as powerful as it really is. Just kidding, both artists are simply great, but... .
If you, however, insist on decorating the garden with gladioli, opt for the miniature cultivars. They are better at maintaing the vertical position, which is always a problem with taller and quite tall gladioli. They will not grow upright without proper support. Unfortunately, proper support is not equivalent with invisible support. Gladiolus corms can also be planted in containers as long as we fill them with sandy loam enriched with compost or leaf-mould and place the containers in full sun.
Having so many military recommendations gladioli are perfect flowers for romantic meetings. Choosing a right colour, shape and size of the flowers, the bouquet can say more then the words can. Imagine the empty-handed Salvatore (Pinkerton) in the clip below with a bunch of scarlet gladioli and the whole aria would be twice as powerful as it really is. Just kidding, both artists are simply great, but... .
Jarek
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