P is for Poker

... Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia uvaria)

I have always loved these plants proudly standing above other flowers in the flower border with their fiery red heads. I spotted this solitary specimen, still mainly in bud, in the garden this morning and it came as a bit of a surprise: for the life of me I do not remember buying or planting it. A second specimen nearby has clearly been a victim of the weather as it was curled up foetal fashion among the Day Lillies, Thyme and last of the Strawberries. It shoulld still bloom though.