Yellow Blossoms in Wuchuan

After a hard week's work my eyes craved to look at something pretty. So I collected a series of yellow blossoms I captured on my walks to and back from the office I occupy here in Wuchuan this spring.

As usual, I haven't a clue what these plants and trees are called. I'll stick my neck out and guess that the first are watermelon blossoms. Am I right?

Wuchuan, 2012

These are linked with others who adore flowers at Floral Friday Foto, Flowers on Saturday, Today's Flower and Weekend Flower.

A Blossom Better Up Close

Not all flowers are beautiful, I think. Some are downright homely.

So I thought of the blossoms on this tree as I approached it on a dull gray day recently.

Wuchuan, 2012

But as I got closer, I began to change my mind.

And when I looked more carefully, I came to appreciate its unique beauty.

There's a life lesson in there, isn't there?

Of course I haven't the foggiest notion what the tree or its blossoms are called. Do you?

Sharing with the flower loving communities at Floral Friday Foto, Flowers on Satuday, Today's Flower and Weekend Flower.

Decorated Door

 Kathmandu, 2010

I found the old wood-carved door on its own already beautiful. Decorated with bright flowers it created a warm welcome.

This was the entrance to a trade hall for Nepalese hand crafted products intended for export. Unfortunately, not many international buyers came to this distant source.

Joining the photo blogging communities at Today's Flowers, The Creative Exchange and Monday Doorways.

Red Powder Puff

By now my regular visitors know that I don't know the first thing about flowers or plants. Except that they sure are pretty. And I like to get my camera close to them.

Manila, 2011

It would be safe just to call these red powder puffs. No one would take me seriously. But I'm going to stick my neck out... again... and identify these as Calliandra, a genus of flowering plants in the pea family. Maybe of the species Calliandra emarginata.

[Enlarge for better view.]

"Success in life is founded upon attention to the small things rather than to the large things; to the every day things nearest to us rather than to the things that are remote and uncommon." 

~ Booker Taliaferro Washington (1856–1915), American author

"I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all."

~ Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867–1957) American writer

This bush stands right at the front gate to our house. The powder puffs bloom right after it rains; then the puffs go away until after the next downpour. I'd never really taken notice before. Here you can see that it's a rather ordinary looking bush... until you look closely.

I link with Today's Flower, Mosaic Monday and Macro Monday.

Mystery Colors in My Garden

We recently moved houses and that, of course, meant we got a new garden. One morning shortly after a rainfall, I explored the grounds and found a lot of colorful flowers I could not name. Maybe you can help me.

PS. I have added the scientific names below as they were identified with a little help from my blogger friends. Thank you! The names link to sites with more information and, when available, I've linked to a site that describes the plant's medicinal values. 

Ixora coccinea

Ochna thomasiana (Mickey Mouse plant)

Averrhoa bilimbi

This next photo is added after many comments to show the fruit of this bilimbi plant. One of the English common names is cucumber tree. As you can read in the comments or the linked page, the fruit is sour and is used in sinigang (a very sour Filipino soup) and bagoong (shrimp paste). Also go visit fellow blogger Andrea, a Filipina horticultural expert, where her post today elucidates on the properties of this sour fruit. And no, I have not yet tasted this fruit from our tree.

Manila, 2011

 

Heliconia and Mussaenda philippica 'Aurorae'

I'm joining the blogging communities at Today's Flower, Weekend Flowers, Macro Flower Saturday, Flowers on Saturday, Macro Monday and Mosaic Monday. Do check out these meme for awesome flowers, macros and mosaics.

Queen of the Tropics

This is my pictorial ode to the lovely hibiscus. I fell in love with this flower just this year, although of course I've seen it around for decades. And only recently I learned that here in the Philippines it is called gumamela, a word that rolls pleasingly off my tongue right into my ears. Amazing how shifting my attentions can open up a whole new world. And how the ordinary becomes extraordinary.

With several hundred species of this genus of the Malvaceae or mallow family, I can only show you a very few I've seen around in my neighborhood. You can read more about this versatile flower in this wiki.

Manila, 2011

I am linking with dozens of other stunning flowers at Today's Flower and Weekend Flowers. The top image is offered to Shadow Shot Sunday and then there's Macro Monday. There's plenty to please at all these wonderful memes.

Apple Blossoms

The apple blossoms' shower of pearl, 
Though blent with rosier hue 
As beautiful as woman's blush 
As evanescent too.”
      ~ Letitia E Landon (English poet/novelist, 1802–1838)

The apple blossom exists to create fruit; when that comes, the petal falls.    
      ~ Kabir (Indian Philosopher, 1398-1519)

[click to enlarge to see shadows]

Austria, 2011

I saw this magnificent apple tree in bloom this past spring in Austria.

Linking with Shadow Shot Sunday (see the gentle  shadows of the stamen on the petals?), Weekend Flowers, Today's Flower, and Macro Monday.

Yellow, White and Red Flowers Nearby

Here are three flowers species I managed to capture on-the-run over the hectic period of our move to our new home.

This Kampanilya or Yellow Bell (Allamanda cathartica Linn) adorned the gate of our old house. 

These Kalachuchi flowers, aka Temple Flower or Frangipani (Plumeria acuminata), grow on a magnificent tree in front of our new neighbor's house. 

And finally a macro of a flower in a Flame Tree (Delonix regia) outside the court we played tennis last week. To see an entire tree in bloom, see my earlier post here. 

 Manila, 2011

Check out the stunning flowers at Today's Flower and fabulous macros at Macro Monday. I'm also linking with the blogging communities at Mellow Yellow Monday and Ruby Tuesday.

Painted Daisy

I'm fairly certain that these are Painted Daisies also known as Chrysanthemums of the family Asteraceae. But I can't nail the species... are they coccineum, carinatum, both or neither?

Postscript: The only thing I got right is the family name. Beautiful bloggers have properly informed me that these are Gaillardia, commonly called Blanket Flower. Lesson: Don't be certain about things you know you know nothing about!

Whatever they are, these daisies blanket flowers I found in a Bucharest park sure are delightful eye candy! 

 [glorious details better seen enlarged]

Joining the meme communities at Today's Flower, Mellow Yellow Monday, Mosaic Monday, Macro Monday and Ruby Red Tuesday. 

(Note: If any of the meme hosts object to multiple linking, don't be shy to let me know. I do make best efforts to visit other bloggers linked to each meme.)

The Common Dandelion

What is the difference between a weed and a flower? Only that the weed grows where it is not wanted, I've learned. Does that make it less beautiful or useful? Well, no. 

Take the common dandelion. Isn't it delightfully pretty? Each bright yellow flower is unique, no two alike, as far as I can tell... so much like snowflakes that way... and humans.

[Enlarge me by clicking.]

Dandelions have medicinal and culinary uses. If, for example, you have low appetite, upset stomach, or liver or gallbladder issues, or you need to normalize your blood sugar level or improve your lipid profiles, you may want to look more into the curative powers of the various parts of this lowly weed. Its young leaves are great in salads or sauteed with sweet vegetables. 

 Austria, 2011

Hey, honeybees love them... and after a spring of seeing bright yellow dandelions everywhere, so do I.

This is my contribution to Today's Flower, Mosaic Monday, Macro Monday, and Mellow Yellow Monday. (If a host of any of these memes frowns on multi-linking, don't be shy to let me know.)

Magnolia Tree

Sometimes you think you've already seen the best of whatever there is to see of a certain thing, and then wham! you're presented with one just a bit more awesome, more glorious, more stupendous... 

That's the feeling I had when I spotted this magnolia tree at the end of a side street on one of my recent walks. I had seen many magnolias before, but this was definitely the largest, fullest specimen of its kind I recall ever laying my eyes on. It was taller than the two-floor house behind it, branching well above the tall wall that enclosed it. My heart sang.

Bucharest, 2011

One of the fun parts of blogging for me is researching a little about what I photograph and post here. I've learned, for instance, that the magnolia is an ancient flowering plant that evolved millions of years ago before bees and were pollinated by beetles, hence their tough leaves and carpels. There are more than 200 species of the Magnoliaceae plant family and they are found abundantly in warm climates from Asia and the Americas to the West Indies.

Linking with Today's Flower, Mosaic Monday and Macro Monday. The montage will enlarge if you click on it once, then once again.

Blossoms in a Bucharest Park

Today I strolled down the historic Victoriei Street in Bucharest in search of fruit trees in bloom. I walked quite a ways from the apartment I am staying in before I arrived at this small park. And there I found my blossom trees.

 Bucharest, 2011

Locals too were basking in the cool spring day, while bumble bees buzzed and the sun cast shadows. I was not the only one with my camera pointing at the pretty pale pink.

It is a little late for the Mărţişor, a traditional Romanian celebration of spring held on March 1 when men gift women small amulets tied to strings of red and white. Still I saw dozens of these marţ tied to flowers throughout the town. This one below with a little butterfly is a fancier - maybe more modern - version. 

 

Here is one final view of this charming park looking towards the back of the old royal palace, today the National Museum of Art.

Linking to Scenic Sunday, Shadow Shot Sunday and Today's Flower.