the Leichardt trees are starting to flower at the Botanic Gardens. I just love the golf ball sized flowers, especially looking up through the canopy as in this photo. Looks even better if you click on it to enlarge. Whenever I hear the name Leichardt I always think with amuzement of the directions being given on my sister's GPS system. We were driving around Brisbane and were directed to go down 'Leechart' street. It took a few minutes to realise the young girl reading the directions had no idea of the pronunciation!! I know she was young as she comes from Mackay and obviously did not study history of any kind at school.
I brought a cutting of this shrub home from my sister's garden in Buderim a couple of years ago and have struggled with it ever since. At last I think I am doing the right things by it and this lovely bloom has appeared. I am driven to distraction as I cannot remember the name of the shrub and I can't find the article in a gardening magazine - when I know it is there somewhere! Does that sound familiar to any of you?
This is a not very clear photo of our crazy dog, who then got into trouble for pinching my new 'feet seat' which he was sure was a new toy for him to play with. He was running around the room and trying to toss it into the air. We have been having words about it ever since, I think I am winning but I am not too sure, it is place out of reach when I am not using it.
Now I had better get a cup of coffee for my hard working husband who is putting up some guttering around our greenhouse.
PS. I have finally found the name - Ruellia Chartacea, a native of South America. I googled it and I am now going to buy a larger pot and keep it in that. I had been planning to plant it into a garden bed, but apparently I will do better with the pot.
The flowers on the tree look more like fruits from a distance - aren't they lovely in close-up? The plant you have struggled with is gorgeous and so exotic. I'm dreadful at remembering plant names, especially their Latin ones.
ReplyDeleteLove Jock's 'new toy'! They always want to play with something they shouldn't, but I'm sure you'll win this one.
The Leichardt tree flowers are so unusual. Congratulations for at last succeeding with your Ruellia, looks like it was worth the effort. That is one large toy for Jock to toss around.
ReplyDeleteLove the flowers of course Robin. Leichhardt is so common for us here where I live, the highway, the 'tree' in Taroom. He discovered and named so much in this area. Seems so funny that we don't have a 'species' named for him here [well, not to my immediate knowledge that is].
ReplyDeleteLove Jock having a game with 'his toy'. I'd have been happy if my pups would have had something like that a few days ago instead of eating the top off my pony tail plant - it is now just a bulb with a stump!!
Very hot here, no rain, sprinklers going overtime. Take care.
I love the photo of your dog with the footrest...my DIL went out one day without taking hers for the usual morning walk, and came home to discover he had taken the same shine to the cushions on their bed....except the cushions did not fare as well.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you should buy him his own footrest or make a smaller version just for him.
We can't leave anything on the floor or our Tam will have a good chew ;) Thanks for your kind words, look forward to seeing some of your layers once you're more sorted.
ReplyDeleteI love the pics of flowers: it is always interesting to see what blooms in other areas.
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