Brrrrr, Its cold this morning. The cars outside have had frost on them. The first appearance of Jack Frost.
The Windows were covered in Condensation inside and frozen droplets outside. It was cold walking back from work last night. That chilly see your own breath kind of night.
The Photo is my Baby bird of paradise plant, the Strelitzia. It has grown on from the small plant I bought months ago.
It is a long term projects to see if I can induce it to flower eventually. I love the Curve of this leaf compared to the others, like a green wave. Its a South African native in the Southern and Eastern parts of the Cape Province and Northern Natal. It was introduced to England in 1773 by Sir Joseph Banks, and named after Queen Charlotte.
I love the name Bird of Paradise. Its Exotic, dreamy, fanciful. I saw some plants for sale with the flower before. On closing inspection the flower was made of coloured cloth material on a long cane. How bizarre to sell a living plant with a fake flower to show you what it looks like.
I remember having fake pink roses which looked real. The counterfit plants or flowers can look real. Its only when you touch the leaves or petals that you can feel they are not real.
I will photograph the Strelitzia if it ever flowers. I am going to a South African Barbeque tonight before the big game.
The Rugby World Cup final between England and South Africa.
2 comments:
There are tons of birds of paradise on the azore islands where my parents live. I love looking at them when I got there. They have such a weird shape and really do look like a bird. I call them the peacock plant because the flower reminds me of a peacock for some reason. I have never seen a fake flower on any plants when they aren't blooming . That is just silly someone would do that. I love hearing about the history of plants and where they get their strange names.
Hi Vanilla lotus,I think trying to find some history or myths surrounding a plant or flower brings it more to life.A double barrelled botanical name is not the same as finding out who brought it back to England first.We are a nation of plant hunters.The Victorians used to send people all over the world with the express purpose of bringing back new and exotic specimins.
Its funny about the fake flower.They are notoriously slow to flower the bird of paradise.I will google about the Azores tonight :)
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