Some flowers look strange, and I’m taking a break.
I’ve just had a session taking a few pictures of flowers in the garden. When I looked at them afterwards I thought how odd some of them look. First up is a carnivorous plant Sarracenia flava var. flava. Ok I admit that in this case oddness is not unexpected. The flowers appear in Spring before the new pitcher traps appear. Presumably this is to prevent the plant eating its own pollinators before they’ve done their work. Very efficient.
Next is a small tree, Cercis siliquastrum. The flowers appear before the leaves and are virtually without stems, so seem to sprout directly from the branches and trunk which looks rather incongruous. The tree is spectacular in full bloom as the pink is very intense.
Finally we have Akebia quinata, a climbing plant with dark red flowers that smell of chocolate. It is very attractive but does tend to rampage, climbing to over 10 feet. Once fully established it puts out very long horizontal runners across the ground. These then root at intervals. Give it a tree or large shrub to climb up and it’s in heaven. The flowers look like little space ships with four legs for landing. Or is that just me?
The reason I’m taking the photographs today is that I’m about to go on holiday for a week so there will be a blogging lull. I hope it’s sunny in St. Ives so I can have a paddle in the sea. Art, sculpture and gardens - perfect!
4 comments
Have a wonderful break - art, sculpture and gardens - sounds like heaven to me.
I am very fond of Akebia quinata thanks for the reminder - I had some in my old garden and I must get some for this one.
Regards
Karen
Have a great time in St Ives - you should have good weather.
I really like the Cercis siliquastrum - I dont think I have seen one of these before - another addition to the must have list!
I’ve never grown a carnivorous plant (and I don’t find the Venus Fly Traps I see in shops very attractive).
Does your carnivore live outside?
Is it hard to look after?
re. your ‘About’ - round here, people are allowed to keep chickens on their allotments but not cockrels (because of the noise).
Enjoy St Ives.
Hope the West Country weather improves for you.
Esther Montgomery
ESTHER IN THE GARDEN
Esther - a few carnivorous plants are hardy including the pitcher plant flowering in the above picture. Other hardy possibles are some sundews 9Drosera) and butterworts (Pinguiculara).
All my plants stay outside from May - October. A bog garden would be ideal for the fully hardy ones. Unfortunately I haven’t got one!
The above plants are also less toothy looking than the Venus Fly Trap so may be more appealing to you
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