Friday 24 October 2014

Hocus Pocus


Hocus Pocus is a rare rose. It is a floribunda, florists rose that was discovered by W. Kordes & Sons in 2000 and is alike to Black Beauty thanks to its velvety dark red blooms but at times features yellow stripes. The rose is not steady meaning its blooms can come without stripes. Abracadabra rose discovered in 2002 is a sport of Hocus Pocus and features similar yellow streak coloration on dark red petals. Memphis Music is a red blend mini-flora that grows in similar zones is slightly alike to both Hocus Pocus and Abracadabra thanks to its dark red petals and yellow streaks.

A hundred ruffled petals

Or indeed more, and changing from palest, pearly pink-white to a deep rose hue at the center.  This ornate bloom balanced on a huge vine growing at the entrance to my cousin's garden; the variety is named "James Galway" after the great classical flautist.  And the fragrance is sweet, rich; the flowers fill all the air with their welcome.

Sunday 19 October 2014

Trichosanthes cucumerina (Snake Gourd, Chinese Cucumber)


Filled with perfume and noonday glow and rich pink Rose

Filled with perfume and noonday glow and rich pink Rose. A flamboyant rose stares at the sun.  I think this variety may be "Gertrude Jekyll"; such flowers are intensely fragrant, the plants often produce lavish blooms like this one, on long, arching stems - stems armed with fearsome thorns!  I found this picture in my archives, a memory from a walk on a bright day.

Monday 6 October 2014

Peregrina Flower

The flowers attract butterflies in My Garden,  making this low maintenance shrub a popular plant for butterfly gardens.
Jatropha makes an excellent accent plant for South Florida shrubbery borders, patio container plant or in the garden.

The Osiria Rose, a hybrid tea rose, is very pretty


Sunday 5 October 2014

Bridge of Beautiful Rose Petals

You will see that the bright gold rose has a garden-friend walking along the edges of the petals.  The small red back of the ladybug (or ladybird) is always happy sight among flowers, where they help a gardener keep the plants free from the nuisance of various small, damaging pests - though on the elegance of a rose they often look like cheerful, misplaced buttons sewn to an evening gown!

Tuesday 23 September 2014

Parnassia grandifolia (Celastrales - Celastraceae)

Despite its common name, Parnassia grandifolia (Celastrales - Celastraceae) is not a grass, but a perennial herb, forming clusters of slightly succulent, shiny leaves. Its large, white flowers with green veins and bright orange anthers are really beautiful. Parnassia grandifolia is native to central and south eastern US. It grows in alkaline seeps and is an indicator of rich, old forest.

Friday 12 September 2014

Cream Roses and Sunlight.

You can see true rose-colour looking out from deep in the shadow of the coiled petals.  They are light, delicate blooms almost like porcelain; the flower is "Perdita" by David Austin, named after Shakespeare's heroine.

Monday 8 September 2014