Morikami Japanese Garden; one of the picture perfect views on the mile-long trail. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Refreshing beauty…
garden
Playful Asian…
This delicate Asian native, Pinwheel Jasmine (tabernaemontana divaricata) quietly commanded attention at the Morikami Japanese Garden in Del Ray, Florida. The leaves are evergreen with the most prolific bloom time being spring. Enjoy.
For history of it’s medicinal use: https://ww anw.naturalremedies.org/jasmin/
A Nest of Seeds…
Female Cycad plant in seed. Copyright 2018, Pamela Breitberg
A “nest” of seeds. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
A non-palm, palm looking plant. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Leaves are large and prolific on each plant. They are palm-like, glossy and tightly arranged around a center single stalk. This is not a palm at all, but its own species, Cycad. This was near the Spanish Moss shown a few posts ago; so when looking at the center I was not certain whether the “fuzz” was fallen Moss or apart of the plant. It turns out the plant is a female (yes, there are separate female and male Cycads) with seed resting inside a fuzzy cushion.
This striking plant is a frequently found garden species in southern regions of the U.S. This one was in the Alfred Maclay Gardens State Park in Tallahassee, Florida. Cycad has many names and a Japanese ancestry.
Formally it is known as Cycas revoluta (Syotetsu [Japanese ソテツ], sago palm, king sago, sago cycad, Japanese sago palm). Cycad means “curled back” referring to the leaves’ downward curve.
From: https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/sago%20palm.htm
“Female plants produce a round, felt mass in the center of the leaf mass. Bright orange to yellow seeds mature on the female plant during mid-summer to fall.”
Welcomed Asian immigrant…
An amazing collection of Camellias decorate the grounds of the Maclay Gardens in Tallahassee Florida. I happened to visit during their peak January through March bloom season. Camellia are native to Asia and beloved worldwide for their graceful beauty. Enjoy.
Beautiful close up as well as from a distance. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Camellia blooms are accompanied by Spanish Moss. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
These prolific blooms grow on tall, dense shrubs. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Pretty in pink. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Still very pretty though it is past it’s prime bloom time. Camellias come in a variety of colors. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
The official website for this state park is: https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Maclay-Gardens. Beware that there is an entry fee to any Florida State Park.
Peek-a-boo…
I don’t think of butterflies playing peek-a-boo, but this one caught my attention!
Shy but curious. Copyright 2017 Pamela Breitberg
Welcoming sight…
Springtime 2016 in full bloom. I believe this is a hardy Phlox in our school’s garden. Copyright 2016 Pamela Breitberg
Warmer memories…
For all my readers and family and friends experiencing January’s deep chill I give you moments from this past spring and summer in these next few posts. Wrap up warm and enjoy.
Flower cluster makes an instant bouquet at the St. Louis Zoo. copyright 2016 Pamela Breitberg
Summer white. Copyright 2016 Pamela Breitberg
Jerusalem Artichoke last summer. Copyright 2016, Pamela Breitberg
Unfolding beauty…
Layers of mum – newly emerging beauty. Copyright 2016, Pamela Breitberg
Love that macro lens…
I am testing out, enjoying, my new Olympus TG-4 with it’s macro setting. Amazing! I set it to focus on the center square, then I can rearrange the composition before fully pressing the shutter.
Extreme close=up of the tiny Aster bloom. Copyright 2016 Pamela Breitberg
Profusion of Asters, the flowers are less than an inch wide. Copyright 2016 Pamela Breitberg
Hardy resilience…
Tough and strong are not the usual adjectives used to describe Daffodils, yet they perfectly describe their nature. Their bulbs are considered lasting in the garden because they are ignored by squirrels who prefer to dig up tulip bulbs. My focus on these spring beauties is on their stem and flowers’ resilience. Warm days followed by snow are typical of Chicago’s springtime weather. This can test both the heartiest Midwesterner as well as spring blooming plants who all seek the warmth and cheer of springtime sunshine.
Over the years I have learned to resist running outside to rescue daffodils lying on the ground frozen in a coat of white. It seemed a kindness to cut them, place them in a vase filled with warm water, and set them nearby to ensure their beauty would last a few more days. I underestimated their resilience.
These images show their falling blooms under the weight of fresh snow and ice followed by their return to upright stance and brilliance the following storm-free day. This analogy serves me well when I feel that trials are weighing me down. They may melt away in time if I stay strong. This spring these blooms have survived three consecutive rounds of sun and snow followed by more sun. Wow!
Snow toppled Daffodils. Copyright 2016 Pamela Breitberg
White Daffodil under frosted snow. Copyright 2016 Pamela Breitberg
White Daffodil in the sunshine after the storm. Copyright 2016 Pamela Breitberg
Yellow Daffodil weighed down with snow. Copyright 2016 Pamela Breitberg
Hardy return of Daffodil’s blossoms. Copyright 2016 Pamela Breitberg