Budding: allium christophii (Star of Persia)

Early May the alliums start showing their colours. In March and April we saw the leaves and stems emerging - and now the size of the leaves and length of the stems reach their maximum.  

Alliums vary as to the May or June flowering, and also the weather might speed them up or slow them down a bit. 

So now it is budding time! It's like a birth... only this one you can watch for weeks. Slowly the small star shaped metallic purple flowers unfold, in a three weeks they will form an 8 inch (20 cm) fully round globe. Watch closely. The closer you get, the more beautiful this one is.

And then you suddenly see that the allium christophii has a metallic glow on it. And what's hip and happening this coming season? Correct!