This is a photo of cluster of Nageliella purpurea (an orchid) growing on a little twig in the greenhouse. This plant has thrived even living outside for three years and continues to bloom all year round. The flowers are about the size of an eraser head.
Here's a picture of one of the orchids blooming in the greenhouse. They've managed to survive a few years out on the deck and are looking much happier now that they are in the greenhouse. If my latin doesn't fail me too badly, I think Epi referred to "air" and dendrite or dendrum in this case to "roots." Many of the orchids are epiphytes (air lovers) which live with their roots exposed to the air up on trees and rocks.
There is something relaxing about plants that lets you forget about things for a little while. Besides, they don't gripe or whine, they give you pretty flowers, they smell nice...what more could you ask for? Grin.
A Dog's Love is without question;
Complete and without doubt;
No moods nor questions enter into;
The love they freely give;
If man can learn by free example;
But one thing and only this;
A finer place this world would be;
If a dogs love, we could give.
1995-2007; R.I.P.
This is a picture of seal floats in Alaska. Rather than purchase little floats, the very resourceful natives used cured seal skins, paws and all, as floats (for whale hunting). Nothing goes to waste... Wow.
We had a company picnic on Thursday at the Hotel Del Coronado. The sky was cloudless and it was a bit hot. A good time was generally had by all.
Hummingbirds are territorial. Bert has adopted our little hummingbird feeder as his own, fiercely defending the feeder from other birds. He's been there for about a week or two and doesn't mind posing for a picture or two.
Here's a short video of an Aloe in full bloom in the front yard in February. It really adds a lot of color to the yard in February when most things are not blooming yet. The bees are pretty happy as well as this aloe literally oozes nectar when in full bloom and attracts bees from miles around. I shot the video with the intent of capturing some of the bees on video. You can hear them buzzing around my head as I was taking the video.
Where do Bactrian Camels come from? They come from the steppes and deserts of Asia. Bactria was apparently somewhere near modern day Uzbekistan. They also come from Momma and Daddy camels, as can be seen with these three camels enjoying a little family outing.
This is a picture of the Candelillo tree or Yellow Elder, also known as Tecoma stans. It was blooming the other day at the botanical gardens, making quite the display.
My grandma had a golden shower tree kind of like this one. The cousins and I used to climp up here and camp out in the tree. I suppose it made us feel special since none of the parents could get up there. I wonder what happened to that old tree sometimes. Happy Saturday.
Well, here's another picture for you lizard lovers and would be herpetologists. This is a Sungazer; actually, one of a pair that was peeking outside of their dirt burrow. I dare say they look like spiney bed-fellows.
Sobralias are neat things! They are terrestrial orchids and are fairly hardy at that. I've had a few growing outside and they even survived the freezing weather this past Winter. These, howerver, were blooming at the botantical gardens with great abandon.
Here's a picture of Mercy Air doing a fly by over the parade. They were probably staying ready in case there was an accident or someone had a case of heat stroke. Or, they might have just been enjoying the festivities. Either way, I was impressed at how much detail you can get out of the old 500mm lens. They were quite high and moving fast but that lens just zoomed right on in there! You can even see the medical symbol, i.e., the staff with the snake on it, painted prominently on their tail.
The lilly pond at the botanical gardens was full of bullfrogs. You could hear them chirping from quite a distance. Most of the little ones jumped under the lillie pads as I got close but this big one wasn't worried for an instant. They're actually rather pretty although you won't find me kissing one anytime soon!
This is an Aloe tomentosa in bloom at the local botanical gardens. I snapped this shot because of the unique, heavy, white hairs (hirsute) that cover the flowers. I wondered what their purpose is in nature, whether they protect the flowers from UV, repel water, gather dew, repel insects or other such useful purpose. I suppose they could just be hairy for hair's sake although it seems unlikely.
I've been lugging orchids around from the house to the greenhouse. Having a hilly lot has its drawbacks. Meanwhile, my Plumeria is blooming and I must admit, it is not nearly as pretty as this one at the botanical gardens. Such is life I suppose.
I've seen these for sale as "Naked Lady Amaryllis" or sometimes as Amaryllis belladonna; however, I suspect that they are not Amaryllis at all but rather Lycoris squamigera. They grow in huge green leafy clumps in the springtime. The leaves dry up and disappear in June. Then, in August (yes, now), huge spikes burst up out of the ground in an Amaryllis-like fashion. The spikes amazingly go from near nothing to 3 foot blooming spikes in a week or two, making a tremendous display. If you live in zone 9-10 (aka California or other warm spot), they are hardy, quick growing and very showy. These are from my front yard.
I found this fruit ripening at the botanical gardens the other day. I have no idea what it is but it was quite bright and showed good texture so I snapped a picture. Both the fruit and the leaves are reminiscent of lychee (lichee, leechee) as if they are some sort of related species. If you recognize this fruit, please send a comment as I searched google high and low and came up notably empty. I may have to go back to the botanical gardens and hunt for a sign...
Here is one of my favorite orchids, a Dendrochilum filiforme. A large plant can have many tens of thousands of pendant, crystalline flowers and makes quite a sight. They are pretty easy to grow and fill up a backet quickly. Everyone should have one.
