Grevillea

The Grevillea is a popular Australian native flower in Australian gardens. It is popular for the unusual flowers that bloom, and for the fact that the tree is popular with birds and butterflies.

On the left is a close up view of the strange flower, and the leaves.

Orchid Flower

A tree which is common in gardens around Brisbane is the orchid tree - which during spring and other times of the year blooms with this exotic looking flower. It is not a true orchid of course - and it's name is really bauhinia.

There are differing colours - some trees are pink, and this one has more of a purple flower. They produce flowers prolifically and when the flowers die off there is a carpet of spent petals on the ground below the tree.

Arum Lillies

We don't see many lillies like this up here in Queensland - they are about and in some gardens particularly in the Gold Coast, or Sunshine Coast hinterlands, and florists who are a little more creative will use them.

My sister is a florist in Adelaide and though she is not working with fresh flowers at the moment (more with silk flowers), her friend called in with a lovely bunch of these when I was in Adelaide last week (early August 07).

The Adelaide Markets

One of my special visits when I am in Adelaide - is to visit the Adelaide markets. They are quite historic and I don't think have changed much in all the years I've known them.

When I was a child, my parents would not have visited the markets - as this is where the Italians and Greeks sold their wares - from strange gourmet foods, to the fresh fruit and vegetables that were grown in the many market gardens around the city. It certainly wasn't "trendy" as it has been for quite a few years.

The fruit and vegetables are the freshest, there are fish marekts, butchers, bakers, mushroom growers, gourmet food producers, wine cellar, and of course fresh flowers to be purchased at the markets.

I always like to see the flowers as there are often flowers there that we do not see here in Brisbane.

One flower that I noticed was Iceland Poppies - I've certainly never seen them in the florist shops in Brisbane.

Blossom

I've just been in Adelaide to visit the folks, and found more opportunities to take some photographs for this blog. One thing I remember well from my childhood is the almond blossom in Spring. It was a big area for almond growing - but sadly many of the almond growing areas have been turned into houseing estates.


I didn't get to take a photo of almond blossom - there was some around and as we went to Willunga - which is more vineyards than almonds no - the opportunity just didn't arise.


The blossom in this photograph is probably prunus - or a plum tree which was growing in the front yard of someone's home near Oaklands Park. It certainly brought back memories as when we were children we had an array of fruit trees growing in the back yard, and I do remember well the plums, apricots, peaches, and especially the two almond trees that sprung to life each spring with their blossom.

Arum lily

I remember these growing in the garden at home when I was growing up in Adelaide. My mother did put flowers in the house - but I don't recall having these in the house. I think they are more popular as an indoor flower with rather modern florists. I might be wrong.

We don't see them very much around Brisbane - but I know they grow well in the hinterland - Mt Tamborine, or Sunshine Coast areas.

Agave

These plants are wonderful. Brilliant green that seem to grow well without much water. They can grow quite big and also often have "pups" growing on the main stem, which can be carefully pulled off and planted, and soon they will be as bit as the "mother" plant.


These are becoming more popular - especially in our drought. This one is growing in my sister's garden in Adelaide, South Australia.