White Agapanthus

White Agapanthus Chrissy Downunder

Photo taken in my garden.

More info about this plant here on ABC Gardening

The 10 species in this southern African genus belong to the onion (Alliaceae) family but do not produce true bulbs, though their thickened fleshy roots perform much the same function.

The plants in this genus are ideal for borders due to their narrow upright shape, and dwarf forms are superb in rockeries or containers. Although the various species seem quite distinct, some botanists now believe them to be just one very variable species.

The genus name means flower of love, from the Greek agape, meaning love, and anthos, meaning flower, although the significance of the name is unclear. Agapanthus has been used medicinally for cardiac complaints.

Flowering Season: Summer

Appearance

Agapanthus species and cultivators have long, strap-like, fleshy leaves that form dense clumps of evergreen or deciduous foliage. Tall stems tower over the foliage bearing heads of bell-shaped or tubular flowers, in shades of blue to purple or white.

In frost-free climates, flowers of evergreens appear over a long season, elsewhere summer is the principal flowering season.

Traits: Sun, Coastal, Rockery, Container

Pink Cherry Blossom

This photo was taken in my garden.

More information about this tree here on ABC Gardening.

The cherry blossom (Sakura) is a well-known and ubiquitous symbol of Japan, are represented on all manner of consumer goods, including *kimono, stationery, and dishware. Cherry blossoms are an enduring metaphor for the ephemeral nature of life, and as such are frequently depicted in art, and are associated with both *samurai and kamikaze. There is at least one popular folk song, originally meant for the shakuhachi (bamboo flute), titled "Sakura", as well as a number of pop songs.

Sakura (桜 or 櫻) is the Japanese name for ornamental cherry trees, Prunus serrulata, and their cherry blossoms. Cherry fruit (known as sakuranbo) come from a different species of tree.

You can read more here:

Japanese Lifestyle - Garden

* Kimono
* Samurai

Princess Lily ~ Alstromeria

Princess Lily ~ Alstromeria
Originally uploaded by Chrissy Downunder

Taken in my garden.

Fact Sheet: Best Longest Bloomers

ABC Gardening

People love colour in their garden, and especially plants that flower for extensive periods including plants that bloom for many months of the year, and some that transgress three seasons.

Alstromeria or Princess Lily will flower continually for 10 months of the year. As each flower stem finishes it can be twisted and pulled out of the ground. This encourages new flowering stems to shoot from the underground rhizome.

Fuchsia

Fuchsia
Chrissy Downunder

Taken in my garden.

ABC Gardening
Plant Profile: Fuchsia

Traits: Sun, Shade, Hedge, Container, Birds

This genus belongs to the evening primrose (Onagraceae) family and comprises around 100 species of shrubs and small to medium-sized trees.

They can be evergreen or deciduous, spreading or climbing, and all come from Central and South America, except for a few that are native to New Zealand and Tahiti. With their stunning flowers and lush foliage, fuchsias offer tremendous ornamental qualities, and are ideal for hedges, containers, and hanging baskets, or trained on espaliers.

Many thousands of hybrids and cultivars have been raised. In their native habitat, the American species are pollinated by hummingbirds.

Flowering Season: Summer, Autum, Spring

Appearance

Mostly climbing or spreading shrubs, fuchsias have deep green, heavily veined leaves that grow in whorls on the stems.

The pendulous flowers have long tubes with flared sepals and often contrastingly colored petals, mostly in shades of red, white, pink, and purple, as well as bicolored.

The garden hybrids usually have rounded flowers with a skirt of large sepals around an often double corolla. Fleshy berries, usually with many seeds, follow the flowers.

Clivia

Clivia
Chrissy Downunder

Information from ABC Gardening

Traits: , Shade, Feature, Ground cover, Container, Birds

This genus in the amaryllis (Amaryllidaceae) family is made up of just 4 species of perennials from southern Africa. While these plants are best suited to warmer conditions, and can tolerate only the lightest of frosts, they can be enjoyed as container plants in cooler climates.

The stunning flowers come in vibrant shades of red, yellow, and orange, and are followed by equally vibrant and showy berries, which extend the ornamental season of these plants.

The genus was named for Lady Charlotte Clive, Duchess of Northumberland, who was the granddaughter of Robert Clive of India (general and colonial administrator).

Arum Lily

Arum Lily
Chrissy Downunder

The common name is ARUM LILY

Flowers/Seedhead:

Flower stem about as high as the tops of the leaves. Upper half to three quarters of flower spike (spadix) is male and lower part female. Flowers late winter to summer.

Description:

Robust clump-forming, perennial herb to 1.5 m high. Plants with tuberous underground stems (rhizomes) and fleshy white roots. Leaves with blade 15–50 cm long and 8–25 cm wide, on fleshy stalks 40–110 cm long. Fruit green or yellow, about 1 cm wide; seeds yellow-orange, about 3 mm wide.

Family: Araceae.

Form: Herb

Origin: Native of South Africa.

Clematis

Clematis
Chrissy Downunder

Known by many as virgins bower or travelers joy.

The 200 species in this genus belong to the buttercup (Ranunculaceae) family and encompass a wide range of forms.

Mainly climbing or scrambling, though sometimes shrubby or perennial, deciduous or evergreen; flowering at any time and in any colour; occurring in both northern and southern temperate zones and at higher altitudes in the tropics there seems to be a clematis for any season and place.

The name virgins bower comes from a German legend that Mary and Jesus sheltered under clematis during their flight into Egypt from the massacre of the innocents.

Flowering Season: Summer, Autumn, Winter, Spring

Flower Set

Garden Set

Hibiscus

Hibiscus
Chrissy Downunder

Hibiscus

Taken in my garden.

Traits: Sun, Coastal, Feature, Hedge, Container

Information from ABC Gardening

A member of the mallow (Malvaceae) family, this genus contains over 200 annual or perennial herbs, shrubs, or trees. They are widely distributed throughout warm temperate, subtropical, and tropical regions of the world.

The epitome of tropical plants, they feature lush foliage and large flamboyant blooms in vibrant colors. In their native regions, these plants were grown not only for their great beauty, but also for their edible leaves and flowers.

Hibiscus species are relatively easy to grow, and while often used as a colourful stand-alone feature in the garden, some species can be trimmed to shape and make effective hedging or screening plants.

Flowering Season: Summer, Autum, Winter, Spring

Glow in the Dark

Glow in the Dark
Originally uploaded by Chrissy Downunder

Taken in my garden. I know this isn't the sharpest photo around but I like the effect of the shimmering white petals against the dark background.

Please help me with naming my flowers.

As I have mentioned in my profile ... I live on an amazing property full of flowers, bushes, trees and flowering shrubs. There are so many all year round and I have been keeping a record of them all in photo's. As soon as I see something new sprouting up .. I take a photo of it.

I would love to put a name to my flowers but don't have much knowledge about them and was hoping for some help from others who may know what my flowers are.

If anyone who views my flower and garden photo albums recognise what they are I would so much appreciate them leaving a comment on the photo of the flower ... with both the common and botanical name if possible.

At the moment I am surfing the net .. looking for the same flowers and naming them but as you can imagine it is a labourious task..

Flower Set on Flickr

Garden Set on Flickr

Cheers and to all
Chrissy ~ Downunder ☺

Bird of Paradise

'Strelitzia Reginae'

This Bird of Paradise is situated right outside my kitchen window in my very own 'Garden of Paradise' and it looks spectacular when it is in bloom. I'm hoping to capture a photo of it while some birds are on it next time it flowers.

The common name of the genus is bird of paradise flower, because of a supposed resemblance of its flowers to the bird of paradise. In South Africa it is commonly known as a 'Crane' flower.

You can read the full article here:

'Bird of Paradise' Strelitzia Reginae - Gather

Our Garden of Paradise

We call it our very own 'Garden of Paradise' which is set on a lush green acre of land in Melbourne, Australia.

My partner Peter and I moved here nearly three years ago during springtime and the whole property was simply bursting with colour.

We both fell in love with the garden the moment we saw it.

On our first inspection of the house and property we were told by the real-estate agent that the previous owner had operated a nursery from here for many years.

You can read the full article here:
'Our Garden of Paradise' - Gather