This week has been rather hot, with plenty of sunshine and little rain so far, although a storm is forecast for later on today. Here are my plants of the week-flowers, leaves and plants getting ready to flower.
It is now flowering time for gaura, with these pink flowers showing below. The flowers are love by bees-the stream of visitors is usually never ending!
This daisy below is blue-eyed African daisy, or Arctotsis venusta. There is always space for a daisy or two in any garden I think, especially if you can have a few different colours.
Next up is this delightful Pride of Madeira, or Echium candicans. While it is still only spring, this particular plant is the nicest specimen of the species that I have seen, probably because it is still quite small. Ove time, these plants can get absolutely massive and a little untidy, but the flowers are always a delight to see!
This flower below is also an Echium. I am not totally sure as yet whether its a cultivar of Echium candicans above or its the species Echium virescens. I will have to do a little more reading and research, but I enjoy doing that sort of thing-I have a list as long as my arm that carries on growing!
Spring means its time for yesterday-today-tomorrow, in the genus Brunfelsia, which all seem to share the same common name-more research is needed to determine the actual species in the photo! I love these plants because the flowers fade from this lovely purple to white over time. On each plant, you get a really pretty effect with the different coloured flowers, which is a really nice effect.
Another favourite at this time of year is Acanthus mollis, or bears breeches. From the flowers to the massive glossy green leaves, there is nothing to dislike about this native of the Mediterranean region. If you would like to know more, you can read about it here https://flat-cap-gardener.com/2022/10/18/acanthus-mollis/.
This delightful little ground cover is native violet, or Viola hederacea. Over time, this pretty plant can spread quite far, but that is why it is a great plant, apart from the flowers. It helps to suppress weeds and cover the soil, so helps to prevent erosion too. If you would like to know more about this plant, you can look here https://flat-cap-gardener.com/2023/03/11/australian-native-violet-viola-hederaceae/.
Oak-leaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) is a delightful plant when in flower, with massive panicles of flowers. Up until Wednesday, I had only seen one at Kew Gardens in London, but I found one at work, where the flowers are forming. I’m not sure whether I’ll see this plant in full-flowering glory over the next week or so or not, but I hope I do. I’m working at a different place to usual this week and next, after which I’m back at my usual workplace. I live in hope over some glorious flowers.
While not flowers, the leaves of this canna are always a favourite of mine, and just as colourful as any flower. These leaves have to be some of my favourite leaves.
This is a bird of paradise flower. I took this photo because the flower is more yellow than orange, but still just good-looking as normal.
That is my week in flowers and colour. I am still enjoying the spring flower show as much as I always have done!