I bought my first ever geum over the weekend just because it's called "flower of darkness"! It's actually yellow and quite pretty, but I'll be keeping a close eye on it in case it turns evil
I once went on a guided tour of an arboretum where the guide kept referring to the many different types of Pinus they had growing there. Pronounced, not in the usual way, it had me biting my hand every time it was said. I had to leave before the end for fear that I would embarrass myself and my companion.
Was the guide Italian? Because that’s how my dad, who’s Italian, pronounces it 😁 thought that doesn’t make it any better.
There’s the story of General de Gaulle, on a visit to UK, announcing he was stepping down from politics. Addressing Madame de Gaulle, the journalist asked her what she was most hoping for in retirement. She pondered for a moment before announcing, “A penis.”
De Gaulle leant across to her and said “In English, my dear, they say ‘appiness.”
I once went on a guided tour of an arboretum where the guide kept referring to the many different types of Pinus they had growing there. Pronounced, not in the usual way, it had me biting my hand every time it was said. I had to leave before the end for fear that I would embarrass myself and my companion.
Oh yes. I made a small joke once - just ONCE - using that pronunciation when we were in holiday in Greece. My kids were at the perfect age to 1. find it hilarious and 2. not be embarrassed to make similar jokes in front of their parents. There are a lot of pines in Greece, several of which were "astonishingly erect", "worryingly misshapen", "impressively large" etc etc - all said at the tops of their voices.
'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
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Plants named after royal events or royal couples normally set my teeth chattering.
Funny how they renamed lithospermum a few years back, to lithidora. No idea why.
De Gaulle leant across to her and said “In English, my dear, they say ‘appiness.”