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The Invention Promotion company of Amsterdam has patented a flower garden
that functions as a clock—a modern version of an idea thought up by
Linnaeus, the 18th-century Swedish botanist and father of taxonomy (WO 98/
22855). The flowers of catnip open between 6 am and 7 am, orange hawkweed
follows between 7 am and 8 am, field marigolds open up at 9 am, and varieties of
Helichrysum wake up for 10 am. Other varieties follow, with
Convolvulus opening at noon. The inventors don’t claim that their colourful
timepiece will challenge a digital watch for accuracy.