Flowers Posts

    We are now at the largest reflecting pool near the Climatron Conservatory.  The giant water platters you see appearing among Chihuly’s glass onions are the Longwood Hybrid Victorias.     The ‘Longwood’ lily, with the upright rim,  is a cross between the Victoria Amazonica and the Victoria Cruziana.   Native Victorias are indigenous to t...

    This is the second of three parts in the life of a water lily at Missouri Botanical Garden.  Besides the lilies, brilliant summer flowers add great accent to the six reflecting pools where the lilies are placed when conditions are right. At the 'Garden', much effort is put into the preparation and care of the exotic water plants on display.       T...

  For a St. Louisan, the place to catch some flower drama for the summer is Missouri Botanical Garden……of course.   August is prime viewing time for the exotic, tropical water lilies that turn the reflecting pools into spectacular displays!  There are 230 plants produced at the ‘Garden’ that include more than 50 different cultivars of Nymphaea.       &...

  “Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows.  It’s what sunflowers do.”……  Helen Keller     This is our second year in planting sunflower seeds in the Midwest, but we’ve also enjoyed a one-time crop  in Virginia.  Their large leaves, fuzzy yellow centers inside big saucers all add up to summer’s personality.     The Mid...

          The garden area is like having an extra room in the house.  You decorate it with your favorites.  Then you sit back (at a certain point), enjoy and delight in your creation of ‘family’ flowers.  It’s therapeutic, satisfying and so pleasant to look at.          The ‘Pandora’s Box Daylily’ is a mounding perennial...

    Like a nectar of the gods, bees and birds are attracted to this sweet liquid secreted by flowers of various plants.  Nectar is consumed by such pollinators as bees and hummingbirds, and happily collected by the bees for making honey.  Flowers actually produce nectar to attract pollinators such as ants which, in turn, defend the plant from harmful insects.  &nb...

    Though I speak with the tongues of  men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains,  and have not charity, I am nothing.     And though I bestow all...

  There is something about dynamics of uniformity; e.g. marching bands, geese formation and singular color en-masse.   We hope you’ll enjoy these images of ‘purple on parade’.            For those who love gardens and photography, botanical estates always have a show to put on for our enjoyment.   Hope you will join us for a lo...

      Flower lovers have voiced a consensus that the peony is the favorite perennial of the flower garden.  What other plant can match its large, exquisite blooms with such wonderful fragrance?  It’s a natural winner for cut flower arrangements!  Outdoors, the foliage can present a wonderful backdrop for other perennials and annuals you may want to showcase. ...

  The rhododendron derives its name from the Greek Rodon meaning ‘rose’ and Dendron meaning ‘tree’, thus Rose Tree.  There is an overwhelming variety, 1000 species, available within the genus.   The pink and red ones at Missouri Botanical Garden were especially striking. The rhododendron is the National flower of Nepal, the state flower of Sikkim, India, and also the state ...