Welcome!
This is a blog showcasing flower photography. I always enjoy photographing blooms, as do many other photographers!
The rules for posting are simple!
1. Every Friday post a photo that includes one or more flowers. 2. Please only post photos you have authority to use. 3. Include a link to this blog in your post - http://floralfridayfoto.blogspot.com/ 4. Leave the link to your FloralFridayFoto post below on inlinkz. 5. Visit other blogs listed ... comment & enjoy!
When to Post: inlinkz will be available every Thursday and will remain open until the next Wednesday.
Ceratostigma willmottianum or Chinese plumbago is a deciduous shrub that provides great interest in early autumn when its slender stems bear pale blue flowers amongst the foliage that gradually turns red as the autumn season develops. This shrub is easy to grow in a sunny, well-drained spot and can be cut hard back in the spring where it can be utilised at the front of beds and borders in small or large gardens. The flowers are very attractive to butterflies.
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Cymbidium (or "boat orchids"), is a genus of 52 evergreen species in the orchid family Orchidaceae. It was first described by Olof Swartz in 1799. The name is derived from the Greek word kumbos, meaning 'hole, cavity'. It refers to the form of the base of the lip. The genus is abbreviated Cym in horticultural trade.
This particular cultivar illustrated here, is a hybrid designated Cymbidium Choc x Michael Herbert. It is one of the orchids we have growing in our garden and which are flowering now. Cymbidiums are one of the highlights of the autumn flowering season and we have several different cultivars that produce beautiful long spikes of flowers that last for several weeks.
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Telopea speciosissima or the “waratah” is a native
Australian plant with spectacular flowers. Robert Brown (1773-1858) named the genus Telopea
in 1810 from specimens collected in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney. Sir
James Smith (1759-1828), a noted botanist and founder of the Linnaean Society
in England, wrote in 1793: 'The most
magnificent plant which the prolific soil of New Holland affords is, by common
consent, both of Europeans and Natives, the Waratah. It is moreover a favourite
with the latter, upon account of a rich honeyed juice which they sip from its
flowers'.
The generic name Telopea is derived from the Greek 'telopos',
meaning 'seen from afar', and refers to the great distance from which the
crimson flowers are discernible. The specific name speciosissima is the
superlative of the Latin adjective 'speciosus', meaning 'beautiful' or
'handsome'. 'Waratah', the Aboriginal name for the species, was adopted by
early settlers at Port Jackson.
Telopea is an
eastern Australian genus of four species. Two are confined to New South Wales,
one to Tasmania and one extends from eastern Victoria into New South Wales. Telopea
belongs to the family, Proteaceae, which is predominantly Australian and
southern African. The Waratah is a stout, erect shrub which may grow to 4
metres. The dark green leathery leaves, 13-25 cm in length, are arranged
alternately and tend to be coarsely toothed. The flowers are grouped in rounded
heads 7 to 10 cm in diameter surrounded by crimson bracts, about 5 to 7 cm
long. It flowers from September to November and nectar-seeking birds act as
pollinators. Large winged seeds are released when the brown leathery pods split
along one side.
The species is fairly widespread on the central coast and adjoining
mountains of New South Wales, occurring from the Gibraltar Range, north of
Sydney, to Conjola in the south. It grows mainly in the shrub understorey in
open forest developed on sandstone and adjoining volcanic formations, from sea
level to above 1000 metres in the Blue Mountains. Soils within its range tend
to be sandy and low in plant nutrients. Rainfall is moderately high. Waratah
plants resist destruction by bushfires, a natural element of their habitat, by
regenerating from the rootstock. Flowering recommences two years after a
moderate fire.
The Waratah is a spectacular garden subject in suitable soil and
climate; it flowers prolifically and tends to be long-lived. The Waratah occurs
naturally in at least ten national parks in the geological formation, know as
the Sydney Basin. Brisbane Water, Dharug and Macquarie Pass National Parks are
among the areas where this species is conserved. Waratahs are cultivated north
of Sydney and in the Dandenong Ranges, Victoria. They are grown in Israel, New
Zealand and Hawaii for the cut flower trade. It was introduced to England in
1789 but cannot survive English winters out of doors except in the south-west
coastal regions, and it rarely flowers in glasshouses. It is also cultivated in
California.
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Jasminum, commonly known as jasmines, is a genus of shrubs and vines in the olive family (Oleaceae). It contains around 200 species native to tropical and warm temperate regions of the Old World. Jasmines are widely cultivated for the characteristic fragrance of their flowers.
Jasminum angulare (Wild Jasmine) is a species of jasmine that is indigenous to South Africa. This scrambling climber can be grown in the sun or semi-shade. It produces masses of white, scented, star-shaped flowers and it attracts a variety of birds. This is one of around 10 species of Jasmine that naturally occur in South Africa.
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Chrysanthemums, often called mums or chrysanths, are of the genus Chrysanthemum, comprising approximately 30 species of perennial flowering plants in the family Asteraceae which is native to Asia and northeastern Europe. The name chrysanthemum was given tot hese plants by Linnaeus and is derived from the Greek words, chrysos (golden) and anthemon (flower), with many of the cultivated varieties having brilliant yellow-gold flowers.
Chrysanthemums were first cultivated in China as a flowering herb as far back as the 15th century BC. The plant is renowned as one of the "Four Gentlemen" in Chinese and East Asian art. The plant is particularly significant during the Double Ninth Festival. It is believed that the flower may have been brought to Japan in the 8th century CE, and the Emperor adopted the flower as his official seal. There is a "Festival of Happiness" in Japan that celebrates the flower. The flower was brought to Europe in the 17th century.
Modern chrysanthemums are much more showy than their wild relatives. The flowers occur in various forms, and can be daisy-like, decorative, pompons or buttons. This genus contains many hybrids and thousands of cultivars developed for horticultural purposes. In addition to the traditional yellow, other colors are available, such as white, purple, and red. The most important hybrid is Chrysanthemum × morifolium (syn. C. × grandiflorum), derived primarily from C. indicum but also involving other species. The photo here is from a plant in our garden, which was given to us as a cutting by a neighbour. It currently has a profuse showing of rich, large blossoms that brighten the wet and gray autumn days.
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