Walk Like An Egyptian

Kirsten warned me that the 'Flat Gift' for this month's embroidery was not that flat and would be arriving separately. Rosie was delighted to be present when the delivery arrioved, and helped with the unboxing

Not one. but two Egyptian Walking Onions. What?! I hear you ask. As Rosie is fond of saying "It's in the name, Grandma"

Onions - members of the allium family [like garlic, shallots etc]

Egyptian - this is because it is believed that the Romani people brought these plants to Europe from the Indian subcontinent. And the travelling Romani were mistakenly thought to be from Egypt [hence the term Gypsy]

Walking- these onions do not grow underground, but form little bulbils at the top of the stem. When these get too heavy, they flop down, and the bulbils take root, a short distance from the mother plant, and form a new plant. And this continues, and the onion plants appear to 'walk across' the garden.
They are also called tree onions [I guess because they look like little trees] or topsetting onions. 

I decided that rather than risk my raised bed being overrun [walked over?] by these. I would plant them in a trough, giving them room to grow and travel just a little. K was surprised I had two in my parcel - she'd ordered three plants, one for herself and two to give away, and didn't know my plant package contained a pair, nestling together. Thanks K - we wait and see what happens.

Rosie promptly declared that we should give them names, "Anubis and Basted, Grandma!" She's been reading about the Egyptian Gods, and thought the jackal and the cat would be good monikers for these. I shall label them. 

They are apparently a cross between a Welsh onion and a shallot - and can be used in cooking as regular onions.

I am old enough to remember seeing "Wilson, Keppel and Betty" doing their Egyptian Dance on "The Good Old Days" in the early 1960s. TV was much simpler back then. 

They were a rather eccentric act, performing for around 35 years - only retiring when they were nearly 70 [the frist 'Betty' retired much sooner, and her daughter took over from her] I can't see Betty, or The Bangles performing on Strictly. 

I will report on the progress of A&B...