Telling the Time by Flowers
TELLING THE TIME BY FLOWERS By GYPSY PETULENGRO (1936)
This article was first published by my Grandfather Xavier Petulengro in 1936
Real Romany’s scarcely ever learned to read, write or tell the time by a clock or watch. They started their day at dawn and did not usually finish until dusk, but they know how the day is going by the flowers, and even the leaves of some plants. Some flowers only open for a few hours. 
Allionia Violacea generally opens at 3.OOam and closes about 11.00am. The Common Bindweed in the hedgerows is another one that opens early in the morning, between 3.OOam and 4.OOam, and if one side of the flower inclines to curl inward the Romanies always take this as a sign of stormy weather approaching. Some wild roses open at 4.3Oam; others follow along at 5.OOam. The clear stalked Poppy unfolds about 5.3Oam. Around 6.OOam the Nightshade family “take down their shutters” and the dandelion follows soon after. Dandelions seem to have no set time to close, and I have seen a spot where they have opened and closed within a few hours. 
Buttercups seem to “like the air warmed” and with the Water Lilly they uncurl about 7.0Oam. When there is a heavy mist Buttercups “sleep in” a little longer but on a very bright morning they open up a few minutes before 7-OOam and by 7.3Oam they have opened out to full capacity. 
The flower called Venus’ Looking Glass opens at 7.3Oam too, and at 8.OOam the little Pimpernel welcomes the sun. This is a very sensitive flower and if the sky becomes cloudy and overcast, or a keen east wind blows, the Pimpernel closes up instantly. Even in fine weather he doesn’t keep open long and if visited by many insects he closes just after mid-day – seeming to say “Sold out, no more nectar”. The Romany people use this little plant as a barometer and by curls of the leaf knows whether thundery weather is at hand. These little flowers are eagerly sought after to make up a liquid that induces sleep. Many sufferers from insomnia have been cured by a mixture of this and other plants. 
The Wild Marigold opens 9.00 to 9.3Oam. The majority of flowers are open from 9.OOam to 3.OOpm when the insects are busy. Nature has made it possible for any stray insect drawn- out by the early morning sun to get his “fill”. Nature also provides for insects that only fly by night. The Evening Primrose scarcely ever opens fully until the sun has sunk well over the horizon, and the Moth flower is another that opens only to the ‘night flying’ insects. 
The Purple Convolvulus does not usually open before 10.00pm. Some Cacti wait until midnight before they open and then only remain open for a very short time. I witnessed the opening of a species of “Cereus” a short time ago. I arrived at 10.00pm, at 11.00pm it began to open. By 11.30 it had opened partly, then it closed up at once. This was most interesting as most people are under the impression that it never blooms fully.
I hope you enjoyed this little piece from the 1930’s, do please leave any comments you may have, I’m always pleased to hear what you have to say, it also help me decide on future postings.
