An awful name for a pretty flower. I made these today with Platinum Paste, first time working with it and I like it but the dried petals are very fragile. I broke several but didn’t repair them because in nature I imagine a few petals are probably mis
These were tough little things to photograph, they're tiny, about 8mm across, all bunched together, and on a stalk that kept blowing around in the wind. I ended up lying on the ground and waiting for the lulls in the wind to get this shot.
These photographs were emailed to me this week and I found I could not resist sharing them with you all. These are not my photos, no copyright infringement intended. So if they are yours please cl…
Stjørnusteinbrot Saxifraga stellaris
This week, we’ve got a super sized epic creature...The Amorphophallus Titanum has the largest unbranched inflorescence (or spadix) in the world; it can reach over three meters (or nearly 10 feet) long! The inflorescence happens to be the large stem in the middle of the flower... The Amorphophallus Titanum starts out as a large tuberous root called corm, which can weigh up to 200lbs. The corm grows and stores energy for up to ten years before it flowers. While developing, it can grow up to several inches a day, ultimately reaching up to nine feet and looking very similar to an ear of corn. When growth slows to one inch a day it is ready to bloom. It blooms at night and becomes so hot from the process that it steams; a very unusual feature of this flower is that it heats itself. The spathe (flower petals) on the inside are deep purplish-red and the inflorescence is yellow. While blooming the smell this plant produces is akin to rotten egg, meat or fish, some people even say it smells like cheese. This smell is made to attract carcass-eating insects, as they crawl into the male flower the outer leaf closes on them. The male then discharges pollen on the insects then the leaves open up. Now when the insects investigate the female flowers they will fertilize them with the pollen stuck on them. To help prevent the bugs fertilizing other males, the females bloom after the males. After being fertilized the plant grows bright red fruit the size of olives then three days later the flower dies. However, the single leaf produced by the tuber grows into a tree-like plant that reaches up to 20ft tall and has a foliage spread of 15ft across, this allows the corm to begin storing energy again to be deployed years later. The Amorphophallus Titanum is rarely seen flowering, but when it does it is announced by keepers and a showing is planned. There was a showing of a Amorphophallus Titanum on April 23rd 2011 at the Botanical Garden University of Basel and people held their noses closed as they watched this beautiful flower bloom! Another reason it is so rare is because it only grows in the Sumatra rainforest (Indonesia) on limestone hills and only if there is an opening in the bush for sun. After seeing some pictures of this plant you may think “Geez that plant looks very phallic…” you are not the only one! Its scientific name “Amorphophallus Titanum” means “huge deformed penis”. Sir David Attenborough was aware of this and felt is was awkward calling it a huge deformed penis in Latin on his TV show “The Private Life of Plants” so he invented the nickname “Titan Arum”. In Indonesia the common name for it is “Bunga Bangkai” which roughly translates to “Corpse Plant” and that is where it gets its second common nickname. The size, smell and lifespan of this flower are the reasons I deem this flower EPIC! **You may also say “Hey isn't this an Epic Creature Blog, why is there a plant?” I would answer by quoting Wikipedia… “A creature is an organism [emphasis added]. The term is derived from the widespread historical belief that all such things were created, as by a deity or deities. The word is generally used to refer to non-human animals but does include humans.” Now that I cleared that up, in the future I may review creatures alive now, creatures from the past or even mythological creatures! **
Are you looking for baby girl names that mean rose? Look no further than this extensive list of names related the beautiful flower.
These photographs were emailed to me this week and I found I could not resist sharing them with you all. These are not my photos, no copyright infringement intended. So if they are yours please cl…
The flowers of these bizarre orchids are quite beautiful when seen up close.
Growing aloe from seeds is rewarding, pretty easy and can afford you the opportunity to have some exotic and rare plants in your collection. This article will help get you started with propagating alo
This blog post digs into the life and history of Hoyas by going beyond basic care tips and common plants. If you love Hoyas, this one is for you!
The perfect antidote to grey days, these hardy and colourful outdoor evergreen plants bloom in the winter months. Add them to your garden now at Countryliving.com/uk
Try your hands on these eerie Flowers that Look Like Skulls and add a bizarre touch to your plant collection!
This pairing was like a mirror image, usually they come up at different heights and look appropriately asymmetrical. The individual blooms are 1/4″ long, and the sequential blooming period ca…
Clusia Braziliana, Clusia orthoneura Paul C. Standley, 1940 Family: Clusiaceae Brazilian Clusia, Porcelain Flower Origin: South America Very rare small shrub with waxy and thick narrow leaves and gorgeous flowers that look almost artificial. The flower stays on the plant for a few days. The shrub has naturally round shape and produces thick air-roots at the base of the stem. Blooms from late winter through spring and summer. Cold hardy to zone 9b. Slow growing, perfect container plant or can be gown as a specimen in a small garden. I found this strange plant in Salento, the coffee growing area of Colombia.
Sarah Raven identifies 10 of Britain's rarest gems of the plant kingdom
Bomarea sp.: A broadleaf semi-evergreen perennial vine or perennial with green foliage and red, orange and yellow flowers in summer followed by orange fruit. Attractive to hummingbirds. To grow well, it prefers mostly sun - mostly shade and regular water. Grows best in well-drained and rich soil. In need of something verticillium wilt resistant? This may be a good option. CHARACTERISTICS Plant type: perennial vine or perennial Plant family: Alstroemeriaceae Foliage: semi-evergreen green Mature size: 1 FT - 10 FT - wide, 10 FT - 15 FT - tall Flowers: red, orange and yellow blooms in summer Uses: tropical-looking GROWING CONDITIONS USDA Zones: 9a - 11 Sun exposure: mostly sun - mostly shade Watering frequency: regular Soil needs: well-drained and rich
from my tumblr blog
Fritillaria michailovskii
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Things that Happen to Look like Other Things - The internet has generated a huge amount of laughs from cats and FAILS. And we all out of cats.
Every month has a birth flower, each with it's own special meaning. Here we take a look at the May birth flower - Lily of the Valley and Hawthorn.
These photographs were emailed to me this week and I found I could not resist sharing them with you all. These are not my photos, no copyright infringement intended. So if they are yours please cl…
Based on popular opinion, here are the 10 rarest flowers in the world. Some of them bloom once in a blue moon while others are almost extinct in the wild.
Naturen har humor! Det kan man lätt konstatera när man ser alla dessa fantastiska bilder på blommor som liknar något annat.
