I promise to make a note every year....

it looks a bit like a perennial cornflower maybe :0)

it does but the seed was wrong for that. I have 3 perenial cornflowers already. I cant find the camera card that had the pictures of the holiday either. I took a picture of the plant & seed pod so i could identify it later. stupid or what?

Never mind, Sbg, just think what a nice surprise it will be when the flowers open!

Do the leaves smell if bruised? It's similar to a Nicotiana seedling.

Are they fluffy, Janey? Otherwise, I agree.

they dont smell particularly and they are furry, not quite like a mullien but getting on that way.

Hoveton Hall garden thats just down the road from me seaburn girl I will print off your picture and take it with me and see if we can make a match next time I go

x x x

that would be fantastic mookins. you are lucky. and you wont be too far from the 'old vicarage' either and is it fairhaven water garden too?

Fairhaven garden is just a few miles down the road from me Sbg, I really ought to visit it again. They've recently built a very nice log cabin tea room........ hmmmmm!

they have indeed and the cakes are delish. had lunch there in the summer when we stayed in a cottage near irstead. I'd love to see it in the early spring when all the primulas are out.

Did you have permission to take their seeds I wonder. We opened our garden once and people even came with secateurs ( for cuttings ) and brown bags for seeds!!!! People who open gardens are usually very generous but it is common courtesy to ask before nicking seeds etc.

yes Wyeboy I always ask if I may collect seed. I would never take it as I know that the idea of 'they wont miss one little piece' repeated 50 times is serious damage. also I was offered seed from a pretty pink geranium but i didnt have space for itin the garden. A Harlow Carr gardener handed me a bag of hardy geranium seeds 22 yrs ago. I was watching him collect seed and asked if he had a few spare. He actually commented on the fact I was the first person who had ever asked. He told me of the plant knickers. Some even bring trowels!

Wyeboy, I'm shocked!!!