Lucky

Not just the football team, also the photographer. I had no idea about the shy photo-bomber until I looked at the picture (and it is today's only picture, except for two totally out-of-focus shots of a spectacular, flourescent green spider that was running around my arm as I tried to take a picture with the other hand). I don't know what it is, either; some kind of weevil?

It does add a dash of mystery to 'just another flower picture'. The flower itself is also a manifestation of luck. I don't think we planted it (MrsM may correct me later), so lucky seed to find some fertile soil - probably via a bird's feet or stomach - and lucky us to have something to provide rich colour in later summer

It is some kind of chicory, possibly an endive. In theory, they are edible: a 'bitter-leafed vegetable'; all yours! The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, says they are native of "Egypt, Palestine" (sic - have they been infiltrated by terrorists?!) Just as odd, they are an introduced species in "Belgium, Bulgaria, Gilbert Islands, Great Britain, India, Marianas, Sicily". What an utterly peculiar selection of countries - the ones that just got lucky