Richard and I saw a beautiful wildflower at one of our walks at Panola Mountain State Park this past weekend that we had never seen before. (I am afraid that I really let out a whoop of delight since I saw it first!) After we got home, we identified it as a Fire Pink, it is also called a Catchfly...it is a Silene Virginica, in the Pink family (Caryophyllacae). I think you can see that
this flower is notched on the edges (sorry the photo is blurred, it was windy!). Do you notice that the USA postal stamp chose these PINKS for one of their Vintage Postage Seeds Forever stamps? I suppose they made sure that they put pink flowers for the PINKS but the color pink is not why they are called PINKS, they are called that due to the notched edging on the flower (for instance, carnations are in the same family of PINKS and you know that they come in many colors!) It might be easier to think of this when you think about pinking shears! I knew the wildflower that we saw had to be the Fire Pink, since I found a description of it and it said it was "strikingly beautiful". That description was spot-on. (As my English in-laws would say!)
Speaking of English expressions, I was amused by this kitten at the Panola Mountain Office. When I was told his name was "Parker", I had to laugh because it made me call him a Nosy Parker! He truly was into everything! I wonder why they have that expression "A nosy Parker" in England? I have never heard it here but I immediately thought of it for this little kitten! And Sarah, the young lady who works at Panola Mountain agreed that it suits this young male kitten perfectly! (She had never heard of the expression here either.) Richard doesn't use it much, I must have heard his mother say it...or perhaps I read it somewhere. Anyway, I looked it up and it seems that no one is truly sure of the origin, but they are quite certain of the meaning!
Okay now, be honest, did you know the meaning of the work "pink" in regards to flowers? And what about "Nosy Parker"? I am sure all my British friends know that one!
I must admit that I am a bit of a nosy Parker, and sometimes, I am a dozy old cow!
There's another expression for you!
Oh my goodness! Please don't call anyone a "dozy old cow". That phrase is usually meant in a not very polite way - to say the least. It did make me laugh though. I would have loved to have heard you say that in your Southern drawl. I have no idea where "Nosy Parker" came from - but I am going to find out. Off to the South of England Agricultural show now and then Eastbourne in the next few days. AND the sun is shining - what a bonus. Will send you a picture of "the cliffs". xx
ReplyDeleteHey Pat!
ReplyDeleteI only call myself a dozy old cow, no one else! And besides, I think cows are lovely myself, so as an American, I can't think that it is so bad, but of course, I would never throw that expression around lightly!
Joy to you in East Sussex! I know you will have a great time! xx
I did know about pinks but I'd never heard the expression nosey parker before. Nor have I ever seen that wildflower before. In the past I have done a lot of wildflower hikes in the parks we have and loved seeing them. I don't do that anymore, but I enjoy seeing yours.
ReplyDeleteVery happy to show you this wildflower here! It was new to us to too and that is why I wanted to share it with you!
DeleteI have heard and used the expression nosy parker long before I started going to England, don't know where it came from.
ReplyDeleteFunny how we use expressions and we don't even know the origin! I also called the trunk of a car the "boot" just like they say in England!
DeleteI also knew about the "pinks", one of my favorites. I had some pale pink "pinks" that had a lovely clove like scent. They have all died out, makes me want to rush out now and buy some! Never heard of 'nosey parker' though. The wildflower is so pretty, nice to see that some are still thriving. With all of the agricultural use of formerly wild lands and hedge rows, very few exist anymore... just miles and miles of fields of corn, beans and wheat in the plains states.
ReplyDeleteMy mother-in-law has pinks in England and we also have them at our church here in Conyers! We also have a lot of our wildflowers being lost, but not at Panola Mountain! It is a protected spot and I am glad to live near it!
DeleteI didn't know that about pinks, Kay! that is the "new thing I have learned every day" for today. Nosy Parker was a newspaper character, I think. I have an idea he used to get his nose stuck in fences, etc. I was too young to read it but I am sure my parents told me about him.
ReplyDeleteGlad you are pleased to learn about pinks too! HA! I wonder if the singer PINK called herself that since she wanted to appear EDGY! LOL.
DeleteThanks for the Nosy Parker explanation, that makes sense!
Your last comment made me laugh so much and you're anything but :) Nosy parker is such a common expression I had no idea it wasn't widely known. That kitten is so adorable. The fire pink is gorgeous too. x
ReplyDeleteMy dear Julie, I am afraid that I am much WORSE than a dozy old cow but we just don't have to go into details, do we? ;-)
DeleteGlad you liked the sweet kitten and pretty wildflower too!
Nosy Parker is a frequent expression in Ireland too. I haven't heard it in a long time, so I enjoyed your review of this common expression. Whoever Parker was, he obviously stuck his nose in everyone's business. Jenny's explanation seems very feasible. Looking through fences is a dangerous pastime.
ReplyDeleteI am just full of these kind of expressions! I am remembering that someone invented something by watching a cat try to pull something through a fence...I can't remember what it was now, I will have to research it. Hope you are doing well these days, dear Mairead!
DeleteMy parents used the expression nosy Parker. I didn't know the origin of the name pinks.
ReplyDeleteHey Terry!
DeleteNow, every time you see carnations and their little jagged edges, you will say, "Ah, the Pink family!"!!
I've not heard of the "pinks" either. I doubt it's used down this way, Down Under. Nosy Parker is, but I've not heard it used in ages! As you say, it's origins are unknown, but with many theories - http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-nos2.htm
ReplyDeleteWhat a stunning, different-looking wildflower is!
Do you not have any pinks in Australia? I am sure you must! (Maybe not, I only know my plants and flowers from my reading, I am not an expert at all!)
DeleteLove that bright red wildflower, sorry it was a bit out of focus, it's stunning in real life.
The UK has hundreds of old sayings like that one, some dating right back to pagan times. Stop that or you'll get a "Face like Fizz" used to puzzle me as a child as I always wanted to meet this fizz to see what he looked like.
ReplyDeleteYou know, your comment reminded me of a very good sermon that I heard once...that the early Christians didn't want to "throw out the baby with bathwater" and made sure that they kept a lot of the customs of the Druids and incorporated them into Christianity!
DeleteI never heard of a Face like Fizz! That's a new one to me!
Not familiar with a Nosy Parker. Looks like my vocabulary is increasing after today's word and flower discussion.
ReplyDeleteWhen someone is nosy, you will think of me!
DeleteAND when you see the jagged edges of a carnation!
No, I have never heard of either expression.
ReplyDeleteIt must be a lot of fun to be married to someone from England.
Oh my dear, it is great fun, we find ourselves laughing at each other all the time, even after all the years we have been married, it was our 31st anniversary on June. 4th.
DeleteLove the kittens!
ReplyDeleteThere was only the one little kitten at the office there, but you are correct that there were more kittens. It is believed that someone had dumped them there, and homes will have to be found for the others.
DeleteHaving been a garden writer for more than 20 years, I know the term "pinks"! Amd nosy parker has come up a lot over the years in those British mysteries I'm always reading! But I've never seen even a picture of a Fire Pink until today....And that curious little kitten is adorable! Too bad I'm so allergic to cats!
ReplyDeleteOh! I didn't know that you were a garden writer!! How wonderful! And how happy it makes me to show you a flower that you have never seen! By chance, I met up with one of the rangers recently and he told me that they have lots of Fire Pinks at Kennesaw Mountain, which is on the other side of Atlanta. Maybe I'll get there one day, but it means driving through Atlanta's traffic, so maybe not!!
DeleteSorry you are allergic to cats!
Wow! That is such an unusual flower. I thought at first that it was a paper cut-out. The color is so spectacular. The kitten is so adorable.
ReplyDeleteI've heard Nosy Parker, but not the dozy old cow. It doesn't sound flattering.
You would have to like cows! But then I don't take much notice of what names I am called, I try to turn them into a positive!
DeleteYou would have to like cows! But then I don't take much notice of what names I am called, I try to turn them into a positive!
Delete