Flowering Ornamental Foliage

I found these deliciously bright flowering plants in the garden around my friend Lily's home in the countryside of Hong Kong. On a wet, gray day the vibrant purples, reds and greens jumped out at me. I don't often see them in bloom.

 Hong Kong, 2012

Solenostemon scutellarioides is a species of perennial plant, commonly called Coleus or Painted Nettle. 

I am linking with lovers of flowers at Floral Friday Foto, Flowers on Saturday and Weekend Flowers. Thanks to the hosts of these memes and all the participants for all the lovely eye candy.

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.

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.