The only exotic bird in my garden
Not a bird with feathers but still very attractive. It lives in a pot in the greenhouse over the winter and comes out into the garden from May to October.
The sharply pointed flower head emerges and looks at the sky.
Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginea)
Then slowly starts to look down…..until it opens.
Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginea)
A Bird Of Paradise indeed.
11 comments
Absolutely beautiful!
SockHead: It is indeed.
They are so colourfull…
During my stay on the Canary islands, I saw only a few of them, and they were fading already so I don’t have a decent picture of them.
AnneTanne: It’s always interesting to see plants (which are exotic here) in a natural setting, where they are common.
I remember seeing this for the first time in Brazil and marvelling at its beauty, I never realised it was called A Bird of Paradise though – and that makes me wonder if that song it reminds me of was actually about a plant now or a bird…hmm…is there also a bird …of paradise?!
CC: Yes there is a birdy Bird of Paradise as well as the plant. Confusing isn’t it!
They grow all over the place in Southern California and I have several plants in my backyard there. They are extremely drought tolerant, a very good thing because I don’t live there year round. I have a potted one that blooms faithfully here in North Carolina. you can manually squeeze out more of the bloom as it matures. My love affair with this plant goes way back and the bridesmaids in my January wedding carry them (42 years ago!)
Karen: Someone’s weed is another person’s exotic flower :-)
I’d not come across one before. In real life it may simply look beautiful but in the photo it looks funny too – like a Clanger with ears. If I had a green house, I’d grow a row of them.
Lucy
Lucy: I know what you mean. I see a bird before I think “flower” – which is partly why I find it so fascinating. The colours are also a large part of the attraction.
What a beautiful bird!
Chaiselongue: Lovely isn’t it.
I love your strelitzia! Your idea to grow it in a green house is perfect. Now I just need a greenhouse (in my Portland, Oregon back garden.)
I’m quite envious of my Southern California mother-in-law, who can grow these plants and many others (bougainvilla, agaves, etc) with no need to shelter and warm them in winter. Now I’m envious, but happy for you, over your greenhouse specimen!
Jane: It would be lovely not to keep dragging it in and out of the greenhouse each year but still worth it :-)
These are so neat. I always associate them with shopping malls. It used to be the plant of choice for shopping malls but now I think they’ve all switched to fake flowers. Yuck. I’d much rather the exotic bird.
Tina: Fake flowers – someone, somewhere must love them!
Beautiful flowers. The varying shape, colour and perfume of flowers is endlessly delightful.
Alice: I do so agree.
It looks so exotic – especially here in the UK, I do admire it.
K
Karen: Luckily it is very easy to grow – the hardest part is moving it and repotting :-)
Wow! I didn’t think the Bird of Paradise grew in cold climes. It must be looking more exotic there! Beautiful!
Kanak: It looks even more exotic then it is cool, cloudy and raining!
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