FFF716 - SWEET BAY

Laurus nobilis is an aromatic evergreen tree or large shrub with green, glabrous (smooth) leaves. It is in the flowering plant family Lauraceae. It is native to the Mediterranean region and is used as bay leaf for seasoning in cooking. Its common names include bay tree (esp. United Kingdom),  bay laurel, sweet bay, true laurel, Grecian laurel, or simply laurel.

Laurus nobilis figures prominently in classical Greco-Roman culture. The laurel plant and its wreath symbolise victory, honour, and achievement, with roots in Ancient Greek and Roman cultures where laurel wreaths were awarded to victors in athletic and military competitions.

The symbolism also extends to wisdom and the arts, as it was sacred to Apollo, and to poets crowned as "poets laureate". In modern times, the laurel wreath represents academic accomplishment at graduation: The Bachelors degree is from the Latin Baccalaureatus, meaning crowned with bay laurel. The wreath of laurel is also used to commemorate fallen soldiers.

Worldwide, many other kinds of plants in diverse families are also called "bay" or "laurel", generally due to similarity of foliage or aroma to Laurus nobilis.

Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you have done so.

If  you take part in the meme, please show an active link back to this site on your own blog post!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

FFF715 - ANEMONES

Anemone, is a genus of about 120 species of flowering plants in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae in the north and south temperate zones. They are closely related to Pasque flowers (Pulsatilla) and Hepaticas (Hepatica); some botanists include both of these genera within Anemone. The name of the flower is from the Greek ἀνεμώνη (anemōnē) which means "daughter of the wind", from ánemos "wind" + feminine patronymic suffix -ōnē.

Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you have done so.

If  you take part in the meme, please show an active link back to this site on your own blog post!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

FFF714 - MAGNOLIA

Magnolia × soulangeana (saucer magnolia) is a hybrid plant in the genus Magnolia and family Magnoliaceae. It is a deciduous tree with large, early-blooming flowers in various shades of white, pink, and purple. It is one of the most commonly used magnolias in horticulture, being widely planted in the British Isles, especially in the south of England; in the United States, especially the east and west coasts, in the Southern parts of Australia and in New Zealand.

Illustrated here s the "Burgundy Star" hybrid. A stunning new variety with a distinctively upright, columnar form. Big, beautiful, and lightly fragrant flowers in a gorgeous shade of claret red, cover the tree in early spring. A spectacular specimen tree for most climates, tolerating all but the coldest temperatures.

Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you have done so.

If  you take part in the meme, please show an active link back to this site on your own blog post!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

FFF713 - DAFFODILS

Narcissus is a genus of predominantly spring perennial plants in the Amaryllidaceae (amaryllis) family. Various common names including daffodil, daffadowndilly, narcissus, and jonquil are used to describe all or some members of the genus. The garden hybrid "Parisienne" is shown here.

Narcissus has conspicuous flowers with six petal-like tepals surmounted by a cup- or trumpet-shaped corona. The flowers are generally white or yellow (orange or pink in garden varieties), with either uniform or contrasting coloured tepals and corona. Narcissus were well known in ancient civilisation, both medicinally and botanically, but formally described by Linnaeus' in his "Species Plantarum" (1753).

The genus is generally considered to have about ten sections with approximately 50 species. The number of species has varied, depending on how they are classified, due to similarity between species and hybridisation. The genus arose some time in the Late Oligocene to Early Miocene epochs, in the Iberian peninsula and adjacent areas of southwest Europe.

August 21 is Daffodil Day in Melbourne, organised by the Cancer Council, is a fundraising event held annually in August to support cancer research, prevention, and support services.

Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you have done so.

If  you take part in the meme, please show an active link back to this site on your own blog post!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

FFF712 - PEACH BLOSSOM

The first tentative bloom of Spring, in the form of peach blossoms, appears...

Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you have done so.

If  you take part in the meme, please show an active link back to this site on your own blog post!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

FFF711 - AT THE FLORIST

It is a very civilised thing to be able to go into a florist shop and buy fresh flowers on any day of the year, even in the midst of Winter!  Flowers not only make fantastic gifts, but they are also indispensable in one's own home as a means of cheering people up and beautifying one's interior spaces. 

Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you have done so.

If  you take part in the meme, please show an active link back to this site on your own blog post!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

FFF710 - CINERARIAS

Cineraria is now generally treated as a genus of about 50 species of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, native to southern Africa. The genus includes herbaceous plants and small sub-shrubs.

In the past, the genus was commonly viewed in a broader sense including a number of species from the Canary Islands and Madeira which are now transferred to the genus Pericallis, including the Florist's Cineraria (Pericallis x hybrida). The uses for Cineraria include topical application for the treatment of cataracts.

Here, pots of cinerarias make for a brilliant floral display outside the Melbourne Town Hall in the City. They certainly brighten up the grey Winter day!

Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you have done so!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

FFF709 - VANDA ORCHID

Vanda, abbreviated in the horticultural trade as V., is a genus in the orchid family, Orchidaceae. There are 90 species, and the genus is commonly cultivated for the marketplace. This genus and its allies are considered to be among the most specifically adapted of all orchids within the Orchidaceae.

The genus is highly prized in horticulture for its showy, fragrant, long-lasting, and intensely colorful flowers. Vanda species are widespread across East Asia, Southeast Asia, and New Guinea, with a few species extending into Queensland and some of the islands of the western Pacific.

Vanda "Sansai Blue" hybrid is shown here.

Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you have done so!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

FFF708 - PAPER DAISIES

Rhodanthe, also known as sunray or pink paper daisy, is a genus of Australian plants in the pussy's-toes tribe within the daisy family, Asteraceae. The name Rhodanthe is derived from Greek rhodon, rose and anthos, flower. Many Rhodanthe species were formerly classed under different genera, including Helipterum, Podotheca, Acroclinium and Waitzia.

Rhodanthe chlorocephala subspecies rosea (shown here) is the most widely grown subspecies and is commonly known as “Pink and White Everlasting”, “Rosy Sunray”, “Pink Paper-daisy” and “Rosy Everlasting”. It grows naturally in the south of Western Australia extending into South Australia. Rhodanthe chlorocephala subsp. rosea is an erect annual herb 20-60cm high with clumps of glabrous (hairless) grey-green stems and leaves 1-6cm in length. It has a large single flowering head at the tip of each stem. Flower heads grow to 6cm diameter, gradually decreasing as the flowering season progresses.

The colour of the bracts varies from deep pink (almost red) through pale pink to pure white, with a yellow or black centre. Stems branch early in the season. You can encourage this habit (to create more blossoms) by pinching out the growing tips. Rhodanthe chlorocephala subsp. rosea is adaptable and ephemeral, springing up whenever conditions are right e.g. during warm, sunny weeks anytime of the year. It prefers full sun to dappled shade and grows well in open woodland. Grown in full shade it tends to be long and spindly.

It thrives in well-drained sandy soils and tends to be smaller when grown in heavy, clay soils. It generally flowers from August to November in the wild but with sufficient water and warmth it will flower at other times. It flowers 10 to 12 weeks after germination and the flowers last a good two weeks. The flowering period lasts 4 to 10 weeks. Fruit appear approximately 4 weeks after flowering.

Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you have done so!

****If you take part in the meme, please show an active link back to this site on your own blog post!****

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

FFF707 - TIBOUCHINA

Tibouchina is a genus of about 350 species of neotropical plants in the family Melastomataceae. They are trees, shrubs or subshrubs growing 0.5–25 m tall, and are known as glory bushes or glory trees. They are native to rainforests of Mexico, the Caribbean, and South America, especially Brazil. The name comes from an adaptation of the native Guiana term for these shrubs.

In Brazil, people use the massed purple blooms to decorate churches at Easter time. Here in Australia tibouchinas also make quite a statement in autumn, with their riot of purple flowers. This particular plant is Tibouchina 'Alstonville', probably the best of the larger growing kinds, and common as a garden and street tree in Melbourne. This plant was produced at Alstonville, on the New South Wales North coast, by the late Ken Dunstan.

It is an evergreen small tree which usually grows to about 5m tall. The foliage is dark green in colour with a pale reverse. 'Alstonville' puts on a brilliant display of violet/purple flowers in late summer and autumn. It makes an excellent street or specimen tree, and responds very well to pruning. Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you have done so.

****If you take part in the meme, please show an active link back to this site on your own blog post, and please leave a comment!****

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

FFF706 - STREPTOCARPUS

Streptocarpus ("twisted fruit" from Greek στρεπτός (streptos) "twisted" and καρπός (karpos) "fruit") is an Afrotropical genus of flowering plants in the family Gesneriaceae. The genus is native to Afromontane biotopes from central, eastern and southern Africa, including Madagascar and the Comoro Islands.

The flowers are five-petalled, salverform tubes, almost orchid-like in appearance, and hover or arch over the plant, while the pointed, elongate fruit is of a helical form similar to that of the "tusk" of a narwhal. In the wild, species can be found growing on shaded rocky hillsides or cliffs, on the ground, in rock crevices, and almost anywhere the seed can germinate and grow. For the home, there are now many hybrids of various colours and forms available.

Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you have done so!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

FFF705 - DAFFODILS AND HYACINTHS

We are in midwinter now, but the nurseries, florists and garden centres are already selling spring bulbs in bloom. Forcing bulbs involves artificially inducing them to bloom indoors, typically out of their natural season, by mimicking the chilling period they need for flowering. This is achieved by chilling the bulbs in a cool, dark place (like a refrigerator or unheated garage) for a specific duration, followed by providing them with light and warmth to stimulate growth and blooming.

In any case, they make a bright and cheery display and fill the room they are put into with a heavenly fragrance.

Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you have done so!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

FFF704 - CINERARIA

Cineraria is now generally treated as a genus of about 50 species of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, native to southern Africa. The genus includes herbaceous plants and small sub-shrubs.

In the past, the genus was commonly viewed in a broader sense including a number of species from the Canary Islands and Madeira which are now transferred to the genus Pericallis, including the Florist's Cineraria (Pericallis x hybrida).

The uses for Cineraria include topical application for the treatment of cataracts.

Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you have done so!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

FFF703 - WILLOW-LEAF WATTLE

Acacia iteaphylla (F.Muell. ex Benth.) occurs naturally in South Australia extending from the Flinders Ranges across to the Gawler Ranges and the Eyre Peninsula. Commonly called Willow-leaf Wattle, this shapely decorative shrub is hardy and fast growing and flowers intermittently throughout the year with a peak flowering period in spring.

It is versatile in its habit growing to a height of 2-4 m with some forms becoming upright, whilst others are pendulous and bushy.The slender phyllodes of A. iteaphylla are from 50 -100 mm long and are broadly linear with a small gland at the base. They are blue-green in colour and arranged alternately, almost at right angles to the stems. The perfumed flower heads are produced in clusters of pale yellow balls which contrast pleasingly with the foliage. The buds are attractively enclosed by conspicuous pale, brown-tipped bracts. The flowers are followed by masses of flattened blue-green seed pods which become brown when mature.

A low growing form of A. iteaphylla has been recognised. It differs from other known forms in having low arching, slightly pendulous branches and grows to 0.5 m high by 4 m across. This plant, which originated as a variant in a batch of seedlings, has been registered as the cultivar Acacia 'Parsons Cascade'. To retain its low spreading growth habit the cultivar should be propagated only from cuttings as it will not necessarily breed true from seed.

Acacia iteaphylla grows best in a well drained sunny position. It is moderately frost tolerant and moderately salt tolerant. It can be propagated from cuttings taken between February and April. Seed germinates readily but should be scarified or treated with boiling water before sowing. Light pruning throughout the development of the plant will keep it vigorous and encourage bushiness. An application of a complete fertiliser in spring and a slow release fertiliser in autumn is also recommended.

Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you have done so.

If you take part in the meme, please show an active link back to this site on your own blog post!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

FFF702 - HELLEBORE

Helleborus niger, commonly called Christmas rose or black hellebore, is an evergreen perennial flowering plant in the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae. It is poisonous. Although the flowers resemble wild roses (and despite its common name), Christmas rose does not belong to the rose family (Rosaceae).

The plant is a traditional cottage garden favourite because it flowers in the depths of winter. Large-flowered cultivars are available, as are pink-flowered and double-flowered selections. It has been awarded an Award of Garden Merit (AGM). 

Hellebores provide stunning results when mass planted in shady areas of the garden. It can be difficult to grow well; acid soil is unsuitable, as are poor, dry conditions and full sun. Moist, humus-rich, alkaline soil in dappled shade is preferable. Leaf-mould can be dug in to improve heavy clay or light sandy soils; lime can be added to 'sweeten' acid soils.

Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you have done so.

If you take part in the meme, please show an active link back to this site on your own blog post!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

FFF701 - VIOLA 'TIGER EYE'

Viola 'Yellow Tiger Eye' have golden yellow flowers, that are heavily striped with a dark centre around the eye. This striking variety can be grown in part shade to stretch stems for cut flowers, while also making a wonderful addition to the garden in mass plantings. Viola blooms are edible and add wonderful pops of colour to your dishes. they also press dry well for pressed flower art projects.

Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you have done so.

If you take part in the meme, please show an active link back to this site on your own blog post!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

FFF700 - ROSES

The last of the Autumn Roses are blooming, and as Autumn progresses and  the weather cools, rose bushes begin to go to sleep. We are lucky in Melbourne where the climate is mild to get roses to the end of Autumn. That means, the rose garden has something to offer every day between November and May...

Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you have done so.

If you take part in the meme, please show an active link back to this site on your own blog post!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

FFF699 - BLUE SAGE

Salvia guaranitica (Anise-scented sage, Hummingbird sage, blue sage) in the Lamiaceae family is a species of Salvia native to a wide area of South America, including Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina. It is a perennial subshrub growing 1.2 to 1.5 m tall, spreading into a large patch through its spreading roots. The leaves are ovate, 4 cm long and nearly as wide, with a fresh mint green colour, and an anise scent when crushed.

The inflorescences are up to 25 cm long with flowers in various shades of blue, including an uncommonly true blue. In cold regions, flowering begins in mid summer and continues until frost. Salvia guaranitica is a popular ornamental plant in mild areas. It grows in either full or three quarter sunlight, in well drained soil. Numerous cultivars have been selected, including 'Argentine Skies' (pale blue flowers), 'Black and Blue' (very dark violet blue calyx), 'Blue Ensign' (large blue flowers), and 'Purple Splendor' (Light purple flowers).

The cultivar 'Blue Enigma', with pure blue flowers, has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you have done so.

If you take part in the meme, please show an active link back to this site on your own blog post!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

FFF698 - JAPANESE ANEMONES

Anemone hupehensis, Anemone hupehensis var. japonica, and Anemone × hybrida (commonly known as the Chinese anemone or Japanese anemone, thimbleweed, or windflower) are species of flowering herbaceous perennials in the Ranunculaceae family. A. hupehensis is native to central China, though it has been naturalised in Japan for hundreds of years.

The species was first named and described in Flora Japonica (1784), by Carl Thunberg. Thunberg had collected dried specimens while working as a doctor for the Dutch East Indies Company. In 1844, Robert Fortune brought the plant to England from China, where he found it often planted about graves.

Height is 1–1.5 m and the leaves have three leaflets. Flowers are 40–60 mm across, with 5-6 (or up to 20 in double forms) sculpted pink or white petals and prominent yellow stamens, blooming from midsummer to autumn. These plants thrive best in shady areas and under protection of larger plants. They are especially sensitive to drought or overwatering.

They can be invasive or weedy in some areas, throwing out suckers from the fibrous rootstock, to rapidly colonise an area. Once established they can be extremely difficult to eradicate. On the other hand, they can take some time to become established.

Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you have done so.

If you take part in the meme, please show an active link back to this site on your own blog post!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

FFF697 - HYDRANGEA PANICULATA 'CANDLELIGHT'

Hydrangea paniculata 'Candlelight' is a new hybrid, which  produces conical, creamy white flowers on deep red stems for an impressive and unforgettable visual display. As the flowers age they gently change to shades of pale and deeper pinks. ‘Candlelight’ is an elegant, yet extremely hardy shrub with strong stems ensuring that flowers are held proudly upright from later summer through to the autumn season.

Summer watering is encouraged through dry periods to gain maximum flower size and impact. Moderate water requirements when in flower. Prune back old flowers in late winter to encourage new growth in spring. Note that this plant is harmful if eaten and is also a skin and eye irritant.

This shrub is perfect for creating a standout display in your garden, or it can be grown in large containers for added versatility. Its lush green foliage changes into beautiful autumn tones, making it a highlight of any garden. In addition to its stunning appearance, the Hydrangea Paniculata 'Candlelight' is also a great choice for attracting bees and other pollinators to your garden. As the flowers age and change colour, they continue to provide a valuable source of nectar for these important creatures.

Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you have done so.

If you take part in the meme, please show an active link back to this site on your own blog post!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

FFF696 - CAMELLIA SASANQUA 'YULETIDE'

Camellia Sasanqua 'Yuletide' (Camellia x vernalis 'Yuletide') has small, bright red, single flowers, with prominent golden yellow stamens, and is known to attract nectar feeding birds to your garden. It is a strong, upright growing shrub that is long living and can grow into a small tree. It makes a wonderful hedge or espalier. It will grow in most areas except for the hot tropics and inland. If you have slightly acidic soil, this is the plant for you.

Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you have done so.

If you take part in the meme, please show an active link back to this site on your own blog post!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

FFF695 - AUTUMN CHRYSANTHEMUMS

The Chrysanthemums in our garden have started blooming this year and that means Autumn is well and truly here. By Mothers' Day all the chrysanthemum varieties will be in their glory and that may explain why in Australia, these flowers are associated with gift-giving to our mothers on their special day. The widespread availability, together with the beauty of the flowers and the way the word chrysantheMUM includes our mum is why they are popular this time of the year!

Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you have done so.

If you take part in the meme, please show an active link back to this site on your own blog post!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

FFF694 - OLEANDER

Nerium oleander, most commonly known as oleander, is a shrub or small tree in the dogbane family Apocynaceae, cultivated worldwide in temperate and subtropical areas as an ornamental and landscaping plant. It is the only species currently classified in the genus Nerium. It is so widely cultivated that no precise region of origin has been identified, though it is usually associated with the Mediterranean Basin.

Nerium grows to 2–6 m tall. It is most commonly grown in its natural shrub form, but can be trained into a small tree with a single trunk. It is tolerant to both drought and inundation, but not to prolonged frost. White, pink or red five-lobed flowers grow in clusters year-round, peaking during the summer. The fruit is a long narrow pair of follicles, which splits open at maturity to release numerous downy seeds.

Several compounds in nerium exhibit toxicity, and it has historically been considered a poisonous plant. However, its bitterness renders it unpalatable to humans and most animals, so poisoning cases are rare and the general risk for human mortality is low. Ingestion of larger amounts may cause nausea, vomiting, excess salivation, abdominal pain, bloody diarrhoea and irregular heart rhythm. Prolonged contact with sap may cause skin irritation, eye inflammation and dermatitis.

Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you have done so.

If you take part in the meme, please show an active link back to this site on your own blog post!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

FFF693 - ROSA, FÜR ELISE

Rosa "Für Elise" is a rose variety named after Ludwig van Beethoven's famous piano piece, "Für Elise" (meaning "For Elise"). It's a floribunda rose with deep pink/magenta cupped blooms and a strong fragrance, known for its healthy growth and award-winning status.

"Für Elise" roses feature deep pink/magenta cupped blooms with frilled edges. This variety won many awards at the 2023 National Australia Rose Trial Gardens, including the Gold Medal, Australian Rose of the Year, Best Rose of the Trial and Best Floribunda of the Trial.

Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you have done so!

****If you take part in the meme, please show an active link back to this site on your own blog post!****

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

FFF692 - PLECTRANTHUS

Internationally recognised with an 'Award of Garden Merit' from the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society in the UK, MONA® Lavender Plectranthus 'Plepalila' is a particularly attractive form of Plectranthus that does not spread like other members of the family, but rather forms a neat low shrub with an upright, erect habit. Numerous spikes of lavender coloured flowers begin to appear from late summer through autumn complementing the ornamental foliage of deep green leaves with dark wine purple coloured undersides, typical of many of the Plectranthus species. It tolerates shady spots and is an attractive counterfoil to yellow flowers.

Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you have done so!

****If you take part in the meme, please show an active link back to this site on your own blog post!****

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

FFF691 - PARAGUAY NIGHTSHADE

Lycianthes rantonnetii, the blue potato bush or Paraguay nightshade, is a species of flowering plant in the nightshade family Solanaceae, native to South America. Growing to about 1.8 m tall and broad, it is a rounded evergreen shrub with a somewhat lax habit.

A profusion of trumpet-shaped, bright blue-purple flowers with a prominent yellow eye appear in summer, followed by red berries. It is widely cultivated and may be hardy in mild or coastal areas. Alternatively it can be grown in a container and brought under cover in winter. It requires a sheltered location in full sun.

Though related to food plants like the potato and tomato, all parts of the plant are considered toxic to humans. It has been given the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

The species is named for Barthélémy Victor Rantonnet, a 19th-century French horticulturalist. Lycianthes rantonnetii has previously been placed in Solanum, a huge genus which has recently been the subject of major investigation, with species being transferred to and from several different genera. There are many rare and little-known species whose true placement has yet to be determined.

Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you have done so!

****If you take part in the meme, please show an active link back to this site on your own blog post!****

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

FFF690 - HYBRID ROSE

Rosa "Baronne de Rothschild" is an excellent bi-coloured Hybrid Tea Rose displaying a crimson red opening to deep pink on the front of the petal with a silvery colour on the back of the petal. This is very eye-catching given its large flowers comprising around 40 petals. This rose has an amazingly strong, lifted rose perfume which surprises and delights anyone who smells the rose. A very hardy plant of medium height, that will enhance any garden.

Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you have done so!

****If you take part in the meme, please show an active link back to this site on your own blog post!****

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

FFF689 - STEPHANOTIS

Stephanotis floribunda syn. S. jasminoides (Madagascar jasmine, waxflower, Hawaiian wedding flower, bridal wreath) is a species of flowering plant in the family Apocynaceae, native to Madagascar. Growing to 6 m or more, it is an evergreen woody climber with glossy, leathery oval leaves and clusters of pure white, waxy, intensely fragrant tubular flowers. Grown commercially, the trumpet-shaped blooms are in season year-round, provided they are given enough light and water, and are a popular component of bridal bouquets.

It is a vigorous climber, tough-stemmed, bearing dark green leathery leaves, which grow in pairs at regular intervals along the vine. It grows best in sunny, tropical conditions, or indoors. They can grow from 2–6 meters, and are widely cultivated as garden plants. They can flourish for years, grown indoors on a sunny windowsill. They can be moved outside or into a greenhouse during the summer. Few resources are published relating to the culture of this woody vine. In areas where the outside winter temperature drops below 4 °C, Stephanotis floribunda can be wintered over in greenhouse or household settings.

During the summer growth season, this vine requires full sun, abundant water, high humidity and a balanced fertiliser. The vine will need to be trellised due to the vigorous growth habit. As temperatures begin to cool, pots should be brought indoors and placed in the sunniest location available. If the temperature in the home is on the cool side, the vines slow in their growth and thus should be watered very infrequently. Kept on the cool, sunny and dry side, the plants will "rest" until the outside temperatures begin to rise again, at which time they may be eased back into full sun. They may continue to grow during this period, but growth is often slower and less vigorous.

In ideal conditions, these vines may be kept in bloom all year, but this is difficult in the home setting, especially where Australian possums, to which the leaves are highly attractive, are present. This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Stephanotis floribunda appears to do best if root bound, thus it is best to not plant the vines in an over-sized container. The soil mixture used should have a high content of loam and peat moss with generous drainage material such as perlite or coarse sand. A citrus-type soil mixture works well in most home situations. A soil mixture that retains too much water will lead to root rot.

Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you have done so!

****If you take part in the meme, please show an active link back to this site on your own blog post!****

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter