Spring blooming flower found on one of our neighborhood walks in Lauderdale by the Sea, Florida. I don’t know the name of this beauty. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Closer view of these flowers. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Florida
Religiously Royal…
Close up image of the male and female flowers of a Royal Palm (Roystonea regia). The popular, native species, has separate male and female flowers. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg.
Cuba and Christians both connect the Royal Palm with religious signifigance. The specie’s primary use is for landscaping in Florida. Copyrightberg.
CLICK image above to become more familiar with the Royal Palm. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Dreamy weeper…
The South Florida Plant Guide calls this plant a “dream of a tree”. In other words it is another favorite flowering tree.
The red flowers’ design and the dangling leaves gives incentives for it’s name; Weeping Bottlebrush Tree (Calistemon viminalis).
Marco image of the Bottlebrush Tree’s flower. CLICK on image to see a diagram of the flower’s design. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
The royally honored…
Purple Heart, Purple Queen, Wandering Jew (Tradescantia pallida) are common names for this Mexican native. In Florida it is a favorite ground cover providing a touch of color to otherwise drab shady areas in the garden. Beside the Royal purple color of this plant and it’s flower I have found no reason that it has been given the name “Queen”.
Purple Queen is very much at home in Florida and can quickly become invasive in the garden; so attention is needed when introduced to a garden design. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
What is real after all…
When a photo is of a painted plant is any of it real? This was on the side of a building on Las Olas Blvd in Ft. Lauderdale. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
The plant on the wall is art; the plants on the ground against the wall are real. However since it’s all captured digitally is any of this real?! Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Leafing out…
This time of year the leaves are new on the popular Sea Grape tree/shrubs. The “grapes” will follow later in the season. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
These Sea Grape trees had weathered leaves from the nearby ocean setting. New leaves were yet untouched by the salty winds. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
New Sea Grape leaves are reddish; mature leaves are green. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Endangered mascot…
Couldn’t leave out the Bonnet House’s beloved Spider Monkeys from my collection of images. I only saw two of the three remaining monkeys that live freely on this property. They are old and so sighting them is treasured by volunteers and staff and visitors. they are the remaining generation of monkeys brought to the estate by the Bartletts. The Bartletts brought many kinds of tropical plants as well as parrots and monkeys to brighten their summer home, the Bonnett House.
The monkeys will not be replaced because of laws against such practice, of which I have no argument. The volunteers feed them each morning making seeing them easiest in those early morning hours. I will treasure these images more when they are no longer apart of Bonnet House.
Easy to love from a distance. A Bonnet House Spider Monkey. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
One of the treasured Spider Monkeys of Bonnet House, Ft. Lauderdale Florida. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Another “egg yolk” variety…
Both varieties of Plumeria (see previous post for other variety) were found on a stroll through a gated community in Ft. Lauderdale. It does seem appropriate to find such beauty in a secure environment; but apparently it is a favorite garden addition in tropical climates.
Taking advantage of a lower branch of this Plumeria tree I was able to get a closer image for your and my enjoyment. This species has the common five petals per bloom. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Plumeria tree with blooms and leaves. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Tread softly…
Tread softly is not just a warning about this plant that when touched will cause a burning rash. This plant too was on the restored dune area of the Lauderdale by the Sea beach. The pretty white flowers betray it’s named warning; Tread softly (Cnidoscolus stimulosus). I would suggest tread away from any patches of this plant; another reason to stay on established pathways.
Macro photo of the pretty little white Tread Softly flower. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
The prickly bristles are evident here; strongly suggesting I avoid touching. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Not an area to walk in. Note the dangerous Tread Softly with clusters of even sharper Beach Star plants. Not all the danger is found in the ocean’s waters. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
R-rated naming…
Who would think that the lovely Orchid (Orchidaceae) name is derived from the Anciet Greek name for testicle; noting the shape of the twin tubers of some speicies. (see https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orchidaceae).
The beauty of this species brings forth other discriptors from viewers; at least from this viewer. This Orchid had been successfully attached to a tree in the quaint Lauderdale by the Sea Village retail area.
