My plant of the day is Gladiolus callianthus commonly known as the Peacock Orchid. It is a simple, beautiful, pure white flower with a maroon centre and strappy leaves. Unlike the usual gladioli where a straight stem is a must, these charming cousins from the high mountains of central Africa droop modestly.
Sometimes also called Acidanthera murielae or Abyssinian sword lily, they have a light scent, especially in the evenings, which may indicate it is a moth attractor.
The corms are not fully hardy but it will be easy to lift them in November and store them in the shed in a paper bag with some shredded paper until spring. I will try them as cut flowers when a few more come out to see how long they last. They are supposed to be good and, being white, would work on their own or with other stronger colours.
Update 31 August 2012
The blooms work well as cut flowers, particularly against a dark background as this photo shows
Davids Garden Diary 
Where can I buy bulbs for the Peacock orchid
Hi Sharon. These bulbs are widely available from bulb merchants, online and even in supermarkets. They are usually available in winter for spring planting. Look for the following terms as they are known by different names: Acidanthera, Gladiolus murielae, Gladiolus callianthus or Abyssinian gladiolus.
Good luck!
David