Lamprocapnos Spectabilis

Lamprocapnos spectabilis (Bleeding Heart, Dutchman's Breeches, Lyre Flower)

Prickly Pear Cactus

Known as prickly pear cactus (Opuntia spp), the leaves and fruit of this desert plant can be harvested and consumed to treat a variety of conditions — including diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and inflammation.

Prickly pear cactus orange flowers opuntia humifusa

The Beautiful Prickly Pear cactus in blooms providing a valuable food source to the bees, bats, moths and other insects, then transforming into a delicious, succulent fruit providing a food source for other mammals including humans.

Borago officinalis or Borage, Starflower

Borago Flowers Normally produces large bristly gray-green leaves and beautiful powder blue starlike flowers. Grows to 18 inches with 12 inch spread.

Amorphophallus Bulbifer

Amorphophallus bulbifer is ripening a lot of fruit these years, at the UConn EEB greenhouses. Despite of appearances, and the fact that birds or some other animal disperser perhaps eats them, it’d probably be a bad idea for a person to sample these berries. Amorphophallus is an aroid (family Araceae), a group famous for being toxic to humans. In several aroids, all parts of the plant comprises microscopic calcium oxalate crystals, which annoy the lining of the mouth and throat, causing penetrating pain and swelling that can be life-threatening if the airway becomes constricted. In certain aroids and for few people, the crystals can even root pain and rashes on the skin of hands exposed to sap from cut plant parts.

Amorphophallus

A pair of beautiful plants with blooms as erratic as their odor is pungent is likely to make a short-lived appearance this month in the Tropical Conservatory at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. These "corpse plants" have massive blooms that smell like rotting flesh. The last time two corpse plants bloomed together at Selby Gardens was in 1999. Therefore; that time the largest plant reached a height of approximately 5 feet. The full bloom lasts only a few days. The corpse plant, or Amorphophallus titanium, is native to Sumatra. It's listed as a threatened species and it infrequently blooms in captivity. Few visitors may find the plant's appearance as unpleasant as its odor the name "Amorphophallus" is derived from the Greek for "giant misshapen penis." Every living thing has its beauty and purpose.

Gazania linearis (Treasure Flower)

Gazania linearis is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common name Treasure Flower

"Flowers don’t worry about how they’re going to bloom. They just open up and turn toward the light and that makes them beautiful." - Jim Carre

Sandersonia aurantiaca

Sandersonia aurantiaca (Chinese Lantern Lily, Christmas Bells)

Wild Prairie Rose

Here's to that special moment of the season when you see the first wild rose. 

Photo Credit

Habenaria radiata

So Beautiful ~ The species of plant Habenaria radiata is known for having its flowers shaped like a "Dove of peace". Amazing, eh