Before I post a flower (almost always) I google it. Then (almost always) I take a minute or so to marvel at the different flower pictures that have appeared in my image search results, listed under the same name. Unusually, I found nothing when searching for the name on the plant label, so I’m not sure if it it was a cultivar name, Echinacea ‘Dark Stems’, or purely descriptive – an unknown pink coneflower with dark stems.
As echinaceas are introduced in large numbers and not all are truly perennial here, it might be one that vanished without trace. Or it might be one for the future, being considered for release under the Blooms of Bressingham name, as that’s where I saw it.
You’ll note my readiness to speculate, which reminds me to tell you that my sweetheart point blank refuses to speculate. When invited to, he immediately starts saying ‘I don’t know… I don’t know’. The very rare time he does speculate, I see why he doesn’t do it. He does not feel bound to stay within the outer limits of possibility that the rest of us routinely apply. So if I were to ask him to speculate what Mother might give us for tea, he might, when pushed, suggest walrus with painted tusks and golden gravy on a bed of daisies.
I’ve never known anyone who wouldn’t happily hazard a guess on at least some subjects, other than one other. An outtake regularly shown on British TV featured an elderly man stopped in the street by a reporter and asked for his views on a political issue.
This was back in the vox pop days when it seemed like an everyday person’s views on important issues might matter; back when a Blue Peter presenter slipping in elephant dung was the highlight of every compilation. I’d speculate it was the late 1970s or early 80s, although my sweetheart obviously wouldn’t.
The man being interviewed paced around uneasily, saying ‘I dunno… I dunno… I dunno… I dunno!’ with different intonations, apparently concerned he was missing out having a view on something the reporter thought important.
I would love to be able to send that clip to my sweetheart next time he comes up with one of his whacky speculations, so if anyone knows where to find it, please send me a pointer. Bear in mind that the man might turn out not to have been very elderly as I was young myself back then.
Shared for Cee’s Flower of the Day
Susan Rushton 
I have a friend, who, when pregnant with her first child, and she and her husband couldn’t agree on what to name him, he kept saying “We’ll see.” She threated to name the boy “Will See.” (Fortunately, they eventually came up with a proper name.)
My Mum has never forgotten losing a school child called ‘Summer’ on a trip to Blackpool beach and having to run around calling for her.
Seems to me the “dunno’s” have it! I wish I could help, but all I can do is admire and laugh. Admire the flowers whose color reminds me of the grape juice stains I excelled at as a kid, and laugh at your sweetheart’s style of speculation. I hope you find that clip!
I have looked and looked over the years. It will take a miracle now there seem to be more outtakes than normal takes.
I hope it becomes a buyable cultivar!
It is attractive, especially with the dark centres.
I learned from the book Thinking, Fast and Slow that people are generally quick to put forward hypotheses about occurrences, even when there’s little hard evidence. In fact, the less people know, the more likely they are to create “explanations.” In that light, a reluctance to speculate seems well founded.
Your comment reminds me of an article I read today about a researcher who asked people to choose which was the most attractive between two different faces, then presented them with the one they had not chosen and asked them to explain their choice. In general people did not notice the exchange and made up a credible reason why they had preferred it.
That’s a great experiment. I’m glad you mentioned it.
‘Keeping Up Appearances’, ‘Are You Being Served’ and ‘Absolutely Fabulous’ are the only British television shows that I am familiar with, so I am unqualified to be of assistance.
But eminently qualified to come up with some cheeky double entendres.
?! Really? I am not sure I know what ‘cheeky’ means . . . but, okay.
Sweet flower. You remind me of a favorite trick of pollsters which is to ask for opinions of non-existent candidates in various political races. Always at least 10% have an opinion, always much higher is some descriptor is included of the fictional politician (eg, Democrat Joe Smith).
It’s strange isn’t it? I think I’d be willing to admit my complete ignorance of a politician. I mentioned a researcher in a comment to Steve, above. The same man asked people to fill in a questionnaire about politics, then altered their answers, gave them it back and asked them to justify their responses. Many of them did justify ‘their’ view without noticing that’s not what they had said.