Monthly Archives: September 2013

Sep 28 2013

Spring-flower-power no 5: Daisies

Asteraceae

The Latin name ‘Asteraceae’ is derived from the type genus Aster, which is a Greek term that means “star”.[11] ‘Compositae’, an older but still valid name,[12] means composite and refers to the characteristic inflorescence, a special type of pseudanthium found in only a few other angiosperm families. The study of this family is known as synantherology.

The vernacular name daisy, widely applied to members of this family, is derived from its Old English meaning, dægesege, from dæges eage meaning “day’s eye,” and this was because the petals (of Bellis perennis) open at dawn and close at dusk.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asteraceae

 

My take on a few “daisies”

 

Sep 27 2013

Spring -flower-power no 4: Marigold(Afrikaner- afrikaans!)

Here are some Marigolds.

In Afrikaans we call them

Afrikaners.

TAGETES

Tagetes species vary in size from 0.1 to 2.2 m tall. Most species have pinnate green leaves. Blooms naturally occur in golden, orange, yellow, and white colors, often with maroon highlights. Floral heads are typically (1-) to 4–6 cm diameter, generally with both ray florets and disc florets. In horticulture, they tend to be planted as annuals, although the perennial species are gaining popularity.

Depending on the species, Tagetes grow well in almost any sort of soil. Most horticultural selections grow best in soil with good drainage. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tagetes

PETUNIA

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Petunia is an easy to plant and grow flowering plant that can provide a vibrant and colourful feel to your garden. The popular flower derives its name from French, which took the word petun, meaning ‘tobacco’.

http://www.garden-nz.co.nz/grow-your-own/grow-your-own/petunia.html

Then one of my favorites

BUSY LIZZY

or

Impatiens walleriana

Impatiens walleriana (syn. Impatiens sultanii), also known as busy Lizzie (United Kingdom), balsam or simply impatiens, is aspecies of the genus Impatiens, native to eastern Africa from Kenya to Mozambique.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impatiens_walleriana

Sep 26 2013

Spring-flower-power no 3 : Trillium and Clematis

TRILLIUM

These are very different!

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Trillium    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trillium

Plants of this genus are perennial herbs growing from rhizomes. They produce scapes which are erect and straight in most species. There are three large bracts arranged in a whorl about the scape. There are no true aboveground leaves. There are sometimes scalelike leaves on the underground rhizome. The leaflike bracts are photosynthetic and are sometimes called leaves. The inflorescence is a single flower. There are two subgenera. In T. subg. Trillium the flowers are mostly born on a short stalk (pedicellate) whereas in T. subg.Phyllantherum the flowers are born directly on the bracts (sessile). The flower has three green or reddish sepals and usually three petals in shades of red, purple, pink, white, yellow, or green. There are six stamens at the center. There are three stigmas that are borne on a very short style, if any. The fruit is fleshy and capsule-like or berrylike. The seeds have large, oily elaiosomes.[2]

CLEMATIS

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Two hybrids

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The genus name is from Ancient Greek clématis, (“a climbing plant”). There are over two hundred and fifty species and cultivars, often named for their originators or particular characteristics.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clematis

 

Sep 26 2013

Trompie: Cee’s black and white

 

082713 b&w banner (1)

http://www.ceephotography.com/2013/09/25/cees-black-white-challenge-animals/#comment-19295

I tried my luck today photographing Trompie

in B & W.

Not very successful!

He did not want to look at the camera!

No, not again!
I won’t look at you
The other way…
Something behind you?
Told you I’m not in the mood!

Trompie wasn’t feeling well since Sunday.

He was allergic to something because

he was scratching himself and even made some soft yelping sounds!

Gave him some anti histamine which helped.

Since yesterday he is feeling much better!

(There was some ginger in the meat balls my neighbor gave me on Sunday.

I gave him some. At first he did not really wanted to eat it.

Shows how important it is to look out for things that are not good for them!)

 

Sep 24 2013

Columbine the answer to my question.

 

Columbine is the name of the first two photos. Rosa gave the answer, thanks to you .

 

The third photo is a  Kangaroo paw. Thanks to Forestwoodfolkart for telling me.

Kangaroo Paws

The colour and form of kangaroo paws make them one of the most rewarding Australian native plants for the home garden. Kangaroo paws are also very good cut flowers. They are exported to many parts of the globe and are grown commercially in the USA, Israel and Japan.

Kangaroo paws belong to the genus Anigozanthos, which has 11 species. The closely related Black Kangaroo Paw is called Macropidia fulginosa.

Where do they Occur?

Anigozanthos and Macropidia occur naturally only in the southwest of Western Australia. They occur in a variety of habitats and soil types

http://www.anbg.gov.au/anigozanthos/