Isn't she lovely?

I can't think of many flowers I like more than the ranuncula. I like showy, blousey paeonies, old fashioned roses and anything with a double flower. I guess I'm just attracted to show offs. But a ranuncula to me, whilst having all the pizazz of a superstar in the garden, doesn't shout it out. It sits very still, on a grey-green stem and makes no fuss whatsoever. This makes it even more delicious to discover - it looks like the underside of a nineteen fifties' petticoat; layers and layers of tulle wrapped in ever increasing circles from the main stamen, like the skirts of a rock and roller being twirled about. It's hard to beat in my book. Judge for yourself.