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Written & Illustrated by Beryl Organ
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To Ellie, James, Jack and Holly My dear great-grandchildren With all my love
from Grandee 2011
To my wonderful family, who all love flowers
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Published by Memoirs Books
Memoirs Books 25 Market Place, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 2NX www.memoirsbooks.co.uk info@memoirsbooks.co.uk Copyright ŠBeryl Organ March 2011 First published in England, March 2011 Edited by Chris Newton Book jacket design and layout Ray Lipscombe ISBN 978-1-908223-12-8
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of Memoirs Books. Printed in England
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Anemone “Anemone” we say with care A letter’s here that should be there! “Anemone” – yes, that’s much better You have to practise every letter!
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Bluebell Pretty bluebell, tall and slim Blue carpet in the green woods dim In Maytime woods she’s strong and tall But in a vase her petals fall.
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Cowslip Yellow cowslip blooms with grace In many a springtime country place Her name’s the strangest I recall She doesn’t look like a cow at all.
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Daisy Pretty daisy shakes her head She doesn’t want to go to bed In the morning when she wakes To show her face an hour she takes.
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Elderflower Elderflower brightens hedges Berries black along the edges Wine she makes for Christmas cheer Will keep until another year.
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Forget-me-not A pretty flower, small and blue In springtime and in summer too In flowerbeds and rockeries You’ll blossom where and when you please.
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Gladioli Gladioli, tall and strong In pretty colours stands along The pathway leading to the gate Handsome, noble, tall and straight.
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Hyacinth Hyacinth with smell so sweet Good to smell, though not to eat Arranged along the window sill To cheer us up when we are ill.
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Iris Her blue or yellow flowerheads Tower above the flower beds We place them at the back to show That they will grow and grow and grow.
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Jasmine Jasmine’s spiky yellow flowers Shine through winter’s darkest hours Brightening up the bleakest day Till once again spring’s on the way.
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Kingcups The kingcup shines in country ponds In early spring we see her fronds So bright they shine in colours bold They’re sometimes called marsh marigold.
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Lupin Lupins tall and stately stand Along the wall they look so grand When pretty butterflies alight The lupin’s such a pretty sight.
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Marigold Marigolds, their heads a-cluster Remind us of a yellow duster Bright and fluffy, but do not pick me My smell will make you feel quite sickly!
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Nasturtium Nasturtiums make a pretty bower Hung from a basket in a shower Give them string to coil upon They’ll climb and climb towards the sun.
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Orange blossom Orange blossom’s on the scene In every young bride’s wedding dream Somewhere she’s sure to wear a spray To crown her very special day.
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Pansy Pansies, sweet with upturned faces Thrive in oh so many places Purple, yellow, orange too They make the garden bright for you.
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Queen of the May Little girls don’t like to stay in, they agree They think being inside’s unlucky, you see So she’s out in the garden on a lovely big tree.
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Rose The scent of roses fills the air Making perfume fine and rare In a jar place each dropped petal Cover with water, let them settle Leave to stand for weeks to come Around your jar the bees will hum.
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Sunflower The sunflower tall is hard to miss It reaches high the sun to kiss To screen a shed, a wall or fence Such pretty cover, with no expense!
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Tulip Tulips make a splendid show Standing nobly in a row They do not like to grow inside But give them a sheltered spot to hide And they will thrive and bloom for sure This year, next year, maybe more.
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Umbrellas The bindweed is its usual name But here’s a happy childhood game Pick one, hold it like a brolly It makes your walks to school so jolly!
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Violet Violets are such plucky flowers They’re first in spring to brave the showers They grow just inches off the ground They hide so well they’re rarely found.
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Wallflower Wallflower sweet on old stone wall How can you grow there at all? Blooming orange, yellow, gold Your roots must find it hard to hold.
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X marks the spot You’ve found a little packet Of seeds you had forgot Could they be lupins, lavender Lobelia, or what? Plant them in the garden Mark where your seedbed lies Then wait to see what they might be Your summertime surprise.
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Yellow daffodils Yellow daffs in bloom a-plenty In springtime woods which were so empty Wintertime has been so drear But now at last the spring is here The woodlands fill with golden light A scene of daffodil delight.
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Zeal The zeal with which we care for flowers Working hard outside for hours; The patience when we dig and hoe The aches we suffer, head to toe; The love we show for growing things Are worth far more than diamond rings.
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© Concept Photography
Beryl E. Organ, born in Bristol in 1928, has been devoted to animals and flowers all her life. For many years she ran a modelling agency. In later life she took up writing and over the years she has produced a series of children’s books, all focusing on the natural world – some in prose, some in verse. An accomplished artist, she paints pictures of animals, birds and flowers, from pet dogs and cats to wild birds and butterflies, and accompanies them with short poems and stories.
ABC of Flowers is aimed at 5 – 6 year olds who are just beginning to read and will find encouragement to explore nature and the world of words. ABC of Flowers, Mrs Organ’s sixth children’s book and is a light-hearted look at some of the delightful flowers to be found in gardens, meadows and woodland. With her son Colin, a professional photographer, she has also compiled Reflections, a collection of verses accompanying delightful photographs of rural and garden scenes. All her books are dedicated to her great grandchildren.
Acknowledgements: Les for his valued help. Dear daughters, Karen and Janet for their assistance on this and other books. Tiggys world, Benjys Magic Mantle 2010 Photograph courtesy of Mark , Concept Photography
ISBN 978-1-908223-12-8
Published by Memoirs
9 781908 223128
25 Market Place, Cirencester Gloucestershire GL7 2NX TEL: 01285 640485 www.memoirsbooks.co.uk