Friday, 9 March 2012

Orchid - to be saved.


Spathoglottis - sounds more like a disease.  But it is a little ground orchid, native to a range of places including norther Australia.

I bought a pot from Bunnings recently and it has been flowering well and now has a new flower bud reaching to the top of the plants.  I will need to repot it - it does seem to be struggling in the little pot it came in, so will do that, perhaps after the bud has bloomed.

It is reported to be 'vulnerable' in northern Australia but the commercial growing of it will help to ensure that it lives on.

ps.  (March 12th)  I am glad I took the photo above - as now the flower, thanks to a couple of feasting grubs which have decimated the flower and the new bud, it looks pretty awful.  I might just buy a new one and keep it inside the house.

Sunday, 4 March 2012

Lotus




I am familiar with the flowering lotus and loved seeing them in China, but didn't expect to see them flowering in a suburban garden.  It is actually flourishing in a lake or dam in the eastern suburbs of Brisbane, and I was thrilled to find it not far from where I am house sitting at the moment.

I have taken photos, and people to see it.  I'd love to have some  growing in my own pond - if I had one. 

Orchid


This is a lovely little orchid that I bought in 2011 - in part because where I am house sitting, there are no flowers, and I could not even find any vases.  When I saw this plant in a supermarket I bought it and these were the flowers that resulted, plus the buds eventually opened.

I followed the instructions and when the flowers were spent, I cut off the stem, just below the flowers.  I am happy to report that already, only three months later, there are more buds forming, and I think a new flower spike as well.

I have been keeping them in the bathroom which is quite warm in the afternoon, and it seems to love it there.

Saturday, 3 March 2012

Bali Flowers

Ginger Flower

Pretty white flower clinging to a wall overlooking rice paddies

Heliconia flower

No idea!