Sheelagh's Outbox

Thanks Dolly - I've been on and searched to see if there are other varieties and found Gladiolus nanus "Nymph" at Gardening Express, so might have to order some for next spring. They certainly are eye-catching and make the border look lovely.
We had a lovely day out at the RHS Tatton Flower Show on Friday (although far too hot) and came home with some great ideas - all we need is a garden at least twice the size of the one we have........
Thanks again.
Sheelagh

Alison? What a great name for a little mouse - I should give ours a name and tend to think its a female, but obviously not sure. We're in Cheshire. I get paranoid when we get cats "lurking" and we've got a few owls & sparrowhawks even in the middle of town & get quite upset at the thought that they might catch her! I'm seeing the therapist tomorrow........

Bingo!!! Thanks Owdboggy - I put in Cynthis - but it came up with some rather odd website on Google, so I tried Cynthia and there it is! Except the one pictured is red & yellow & amazing! Ours are much more subdued but just as pretty.
http://www.tulipworld.com/itemdesc.asp?item=Cynthia-Tulip&cat=Specialty&ic=4154

I tried again and found the following - it is the same as ours.
I can sleep tonight now <g>.

http://www.paghat.com/tulipacynthia.html

Thanks! There is no pattern, they just grow where they're planted and I don't take any notice of colour co-ordination - I've inherited my lack of "order" in the garden from my Mum who has just turned 86 & still tells me what to do!

Thanks for all the answers- these have a pink stripe on the outer petal and open up in a star shape - the petals close up when the sun goes in & sort of "cross over" like the tulips do. They are in a cluster (though I can't remember planting so many together and are about 8/10" high. I'll put another photo on so you can see the inside.