Gwen Fletcher

The following article was printed in Hallmark by Ted Janes, the editor in 1984 :-

THE 'LACEY GREEN AURICULA'

May years ago Miss Fletcher gave me this lithograph of this curiously attractive green petalled flower, that unfortunately we can only reproduce in black and white.

Time has prevented me researching its origin, but luckily our cover story expert Miles Marshall agreed to have a go! He enlisted the help of Mrs Barbara Chalkley who obtained from the Royal Horticultural Society the address of the Hon. Secretary of the national Auricula and Primula Society, a Mr Wigley, who tells us that the painting originally appeared in a book 'The Auricula' by Rev. C. O. Moreton, 1964. The book says that the variety was raised in 1962 by a noted breeder living in the Cotswolds, F. Buckley, who was well known to to the Rev. Moreton.

Mr. Wigley says it was quite common for breeders to meet and examine each others seedlings and if anything worthwhile turned up, suggestions would be made of a local name, etc. for the new variety. What more likely than the Rev. Moreton, who older readers will remember as Vicar of the Parish from 1929 - 34, suggesting the name of Lacey Green, his old parish, for this very appropriately coloured flower, though he could not positively vouch for the fact.

The flower appears to be extinct as it has not appeared on the Show Bench in the last 20 years, but I wonder, perhaps tucked away in a corner of some 'olde worlde' garden, please watch out this summer.

A few prints of the painting are still available at about £2.50 plus postage, if you are interested we can supply the address.

Get your copy and join us in the search for the 'Lacey Green' Auricula.