Flowers: princess flower (Tibouchina urvilleana)

Princess Flower:
A native of Brazil, princess flower (Tibouchina urvilleana) is a glorious addition to tropical and sub-tropical gardens. Its large purple flowers and soft hairy leaves add interest and a burst of color to any landscape. It can also can be used as an indoor container plant in cooler regions, if full light and warmth is provided. Though it is usually a shrub here, it sometimes becomes large enough to form a small ornamental tree. It is also known as glory bush, purple glory bush.

This big bushy,shrub flower blooms in summer here in Auckland. The shape of the flowers and the leaves reminds me of the Singapore rhododendron.

http://ann-mythoughtsandphotos.blogspot.co.nz/2009/11/senduduk-flower-aka-straits-or.html




Macro Flower Saturday
Macro Flower Saturday Macro Flower Saturday ">
href="http://flowers-macrophotography.blogspot.com">Macro Flower Saturday

http://blueberrycraftandhobbytime.blogspot.com/p/join-my-photo-challenge-flowers-on.html

http://floralfridayfoto.blogspot.com/

Macro flowers: Swan plants- Gomphocarpus physocarpus

Gomphocarpus physocarpus
In New Zealand, schools and households plant swan plants for the Monarch Butterfly.

We have the Monarch Butterfly New Zealand Trust to help protect the endemic and native butterflies and moths of NZ and their habitat.

This is the one with fruit/follicle that is ovoid, measuring 1.5-2.5 cm in diameter, tapering gradually or abruptly into an attenuate beak.” (i.e. the true Swan Plant).The Milkweed plants are sometimes called Swan Plant because the seed pod floats on water like a swan if it is cut off. The plant are also known as Balloon Cotton, Silkpods or Cotton Bush.

Macro Flower Saturday
Macro Flower Saturday Macro Flower Saturday ">
href="http://flowers-macrophotography.blogspot.com">Macro Flower Saturday

http://blueberrycraftandhobbytime.blogspot.com/p/join-my-photo-challenge-flowers-on.html

Poinsettias

When I was growing up in Borneo, we had Christmas cards with red Poinsettias. We used to draw them. Once my mum grew them, but the leaves never became red.

Here in New Zealand, plant centres and shopping malls have them, and they are very attractive.

We moved to this new house. There was a stump where all the branches were chopped to the ground. As new shoots grew, I could see the Poinsettias leaves coming out. I thought of poor mum trying to grow her Poinsettias, and here, some one had chopped it off. As the bush grew, about 2 weeks ago, hidden at the base of the plant, I could see little red leaflets to confirm to me that it is a Poinsettia plant.

I monitored its growth, and here is the best I can show you. A shaggy Poinsettia flower, not the manicured ones you get from the garden centre. But it is precious to me. It reminds me of the last Christmas I spent with my mum. That Christmas in 1986 in Australia. Then Mum spent the rest of her Christmases in heaven. I miss you Mum.

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

Euphorbia pulcherrima, or noche buena, is a species of flowering plant indhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifigenous to Mexico and Central America. It is commonly known as poinsettia (play /pɔɪnˈsɛti.ə/),[1] after Joel Roberts Poinsett,[2] the first United States Minister to Mexico,[3] who introduced the plant into the US in 1825. It is also called the Atatürk flower in Turkey.

The plant's association with Christmas began in 16th century Mexico, where legend tells of a young girl who was too poor to provide a gift for the celebration of Jesus' birthday. The tale goes that the child was inspired by an angel to gather weeds from the roadside and place them in front of the church altar. Crimson "blossoms" sprouted from the weeds and became beautiful poinsettias.[7] From the 17th century, Franciscan friars in Mexico included the plants in their Christmas celebrations.[8] The star-shaped leaf pattern is said to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem, and the red color represents the blood sacrifice through the crucifixion of Jesus.[9]

Poinsettias are popular Christmas decorations[2] in homes, churches, offices, and elsewhere across North America. They are available in large numbers from grocery, drug, and hardware stores. In the United States, December 12 is National Poinsettia Day.



Macro Flower Saturday
Macro Flower Saturday Macro Flower Saturday ">
href="http://flowers-macrophotography.blogspot.com">Macro Flower Saturday

http://blueberrycraftandhobbytime.blogspot.com/p/join-my-photo-challenge-flowers-on.html

Yellow flower hedge in Auckland.

http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif


I walk around my neighbourhood and spy on this hedge with beautiful yellow flowers. Sorry I don't know it's name.

I hope it is not obnoxious like the privet. Do click my other post about privet which can make people very sick if they are allergic to them.

http://annkschin.blogspot.com/2011/12/save-world-trim-your-hedges.html


Macro Flower Saturday
Macro Flower Saturday Macro Flower Saturday ">
href="http://flowers-macrophotography.blogspot.com">Macro Flower Saturday

http://blueberrycraftandhobbytime.blogspot.com/p/join-my-photo-challenge-flowers-on.html

macro flowers: Mango flowers

Macro Flower Saturday
Macro Flower Saturday Macro Flower Saturday ">
href="http://flowers-macrophotography.blogspot.com">Macro Flower Saturday

http://blueberrycraftandhobbytime.blogspot.com/p/join-my-photo-challenge-flowers-on.html


Mango flowers,a big spray of flowers for one miserable mango.

Macro Saturday Flowers

Macro Flower Saturday
Macro Flower Saturday Macro Flower Saturday ">Macro Flower Saturday

http://blueberrycraftandhobbytime.blogspot.com/p/join-my-photo-challenge-flowers-on.html

A common garden flower in Tropical Malaysia.

Macro flowers: Wild fennel ???

Macro Flower Saturday
Macro Flower Saturday Macro Flower Saturday ">Macro Flower Saturday

http://blueberrycraftandhobbytime.blogspot.com/p/join-my-photo-challenge-flowers-on.html 






These looks like wild fennel. Can anyone confirm?

When I was a student, staying in a student flat, there was a big stump of this plant near the road. People came to harvest both the young leaves and the swollen, bulb-like stem base stump. They tell me that it is wild fennel. I am not adventurous in my food, so I never harvested them myself.

Now, cooking shows show chefs using it, and it cost a lot in the supermarket.

macroflowers/Sat flowers: little clusters of white flowers

Macro Flower Saturday
Macro Flower Saturday Macro Flower Saturday ">Macro Flower Saturday

http://blueberrycraftandhobbytime.blogspot.com/p/join-my-photo-challenge-flowers-on.html

These lovely clusters of white flowers with red corollas were photographed at the Tropical greenhouse at the Auckland domain. My grandpa and parents grew them in Borneo. They looked like tear drops.

http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Addition: Clerodendrum thomsoniae (Bleeding Heart Vine,
Rosie of My garden Haven may be right. I googled, there are pink and white ones. My Grandpa's and dad's did have a red stamen, this one didn't. But the moment I saw it, I knew it was Grandpa's flower.
Thanks Rosie.

Features: Clerodendrum thomsoniae is an attractive bushy, tropical looking twining vine with glossy dark green ovate leaves and gorgeous flowers in clusters of 8-20 together, resembling a group of dangling hearts. Each flower has a pure/creamish white five-lobed calyx and a crimson five-petaled corolla. The flowers are quite long lasting with their white sepals gradually changing to light purple as it withers off. Occasionally, fruits develop in shade of green and blacken as they ripen, with four black seeds within that can be used for propagation.

http://fichas.infojardin.com/trepadoras/clerodendrum-thomsoniae-clerodendro-clerodendron.htm go to this link, this is exactly those I saw in my grandpa's garden. This has the red corolla showing.

Macro Flower: Aloe vera flower

Macro Flower Saturday
Macro Flower Saturday Macro Flower Saturday ">Macro Flower Saturday

http://blueberrycraftandhobbytime.blogspot.com/p/join-my-photo-challenge-flowers-on.html


I grew a lot of aloe vera plants for medicinal reason. They never bloomed, may be because I harvested the leaves because they were very good for burnts. I saw this in a private island in Mangere and took this photo.

Erlicheer

Macro Flower Saturday
Macro Flower Saturday Macro Flower Saturday ">Macro Flower Saturday

http://blueberrycraftandhobbytime.blogspot.com/p/join-my-photo-challenge-flowers-on.html

Narcissus 'Erlicheer' double flowered narcissus
Narcissus 'Erlicheer' belongs to the plant family AMARYLLIDACE and Genus Narcissus

A fan brought me this bunch of Erlicheer. It is winter here, and the florist told her that this is a hot house variety. It brings "early cheer" to the recipient.

macro saturaday flower/my photochallenge:clitoria "Ternatea",

Macro Flower Saturday
Macro Flower Saturday Macro Flower Saturday ">Macro Flower Saturday

http://blueberrycraftandhobbytime.blogspot.com/p/join-my-photo-challenge-flowers-on.html

In Southeast Asia the flowers are used to colour food. In Malay cooking, an aqueous extract is used to colour glutinous rice for kuih ketan (also known as pulut tai tai in Peranakan/Nyonya cooking) and in nonya chang. In Thailand, a syrupy blue drink is made called nam dok anchan (น้ำดอกอัญชัน). In Burma the flowers are used as food, often they are dipped in batter and fried.

The flowers of this vine have the shape of human female pudenda, hence the Latin name of the genus "Clitoria", from "clitoris". (Synonyms: Clitoris principissae.)[3] "Ternatea", the name of the species, comes from Ternate, a location in Indonesia.[citation needed] In some languages (Tamil, Malayalam) it is named after the seashell, which is a euphemism for a woman's external sexual organs.[citation needed]

Owing to its similarity to a human body part, this plant has been ascribed properties affecting the same (a phenomenon also found in connection with the mandrake, among other plants). It was used traditionally to cure sexual ailments, like infertility and gonorrhea, to control menstrual discharge, and also as an aphrodisiac.

Cactus Wine, anyone?

="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2T21IOt6fK4/Tbsp6eKZyZI/AAAAAAA
Macro Flower Saturday

http://blueberrycraftandhobbytime.blogspot.com/p/join-my-photo-challenge-flowers-on.html

The Opuntia lindheimeri, more commonly known as the prickly pear cactus, is a great choice for making a succulent cactus wine. This cactus grows in abundance in the American southwest and blooms a reddish purple fruit in fall, which gives off a sweet, watermelon-like essence when peeled. The fruit is what the wine is made from in a traditional--but uniquely western--wine-making process.

macro saturaday flower/my photochallenge: pink flowers

Macro Flower Saturday
Macro Flower Saturday Macro Flower Saturday ">Macro Flower Saturday

http://blueberrycraftandhobbytime.blogspot.com/p/join-my-photo-challenge-flowers-on.html

In Southeast Asia the flowers are used to colour food. In Malay cooking, an aqueous extract is used to colour glutinous rice for kuih ketan (also known as pulut tai tai in Peranakan/Nyonya cooking) and in nonya chang. In Thailand, a syrupy blue drink is made called nam dok anchan (น้ำดอกอัญชัน). In Burma the flowers are used as food, often they are dipped in batter and fried.

The flowers of this vine have the shape of human female pudenda, hence the Latin name of the genus "Clitoria", from "clitoris". (Synonyms: Clitoris principissae.)[3] "Ternatea", the name of the species, comes from Ternate, a location in Indonesia.[citation needed] In some languages (Tamil, Malayalam) it is named after the seashell, which is a euphemism for a woman's external sexual organs.[citation needed]

Owing to its similarity to a human body part, this plant has been ascribed properties affecting the same (a phenomenon also found in connection with the mandrake, among other plants). It was used traditionally to cure sexual ailments, like infertility and gonorrhea, to control menstrual discharge, and also as an aphrodisiac.

Macro Flowers Saturday/favorite flowers: native shrub

Macro Flower Saturday

http://blueberrycraftandhobbytime.blogspot.com/p/join-my-photo-challenge-flowers-on.html

Macro Flowers Saturday: Canna

Macro Flower Saturday

http://blueberrycraftandhobbytime.blogspot.com/p/join-my-photo-challenge-flowers-on.html

Tomorrow's going to be Mother's day.
Children are making cards.

There are two groups who are not celebrating.
I teach two brothers,
Their mum died when the older was 6,
He remembers his mum.
The younger was too young to remember.

I ask the kids if they want to make a card for their mum.
They say Yes!
I ask the older brother, he said he was fine,
He wants to make one for his Dad.

But the little bro is very sensitive,
I do not even want to go there.
So we don't make a card even when the others ask.

The other group are the mums,
who had lost their children.
On this mother's day.
their arms are heavy.
Tears well up in their eyes.
Others may have forgotten.
They have not.

I have the unfortunate circumstances,
I lost my mum,
I lost my child.
Praise God, I have moved on.
Happy Mother's Day.
I say a prayer to those who have no joy on this day.