Identifying Flowers

 I have a picture file on my computer of nothing but flowers I have snapped. And, of course, there were some I had no idea what they were but I'd liked them so I had to have a picture. 

I don't know how I escaped knowing this.... but.... I just discovered Google Lens where you can I D things. So, I now know what those flowers are. Here are a couple....

I got to enjoy these gorgeous stems of purple flowers every time I drove out of our Commons parking lot. But, I couldn't figure out what they were. Ta Da.....Mexican Bush Sage 

and 

I saw this in a field near my granddaughter's home. It's Alfalfa!! Who would have guessed? You probably knew but I was 'green as grass' about what it was. 

I love Purple, not so much the lavender shades but the darker hues ... on anything. That color always catches my eye. 

The Fragrant Ginger Lily

     My Aunt had the most fragrant flowers blooming in her yard. They were ginger lilies. 

I got some cuttings from her and they did well. 

Then my daughter, Shirley, married, moved to Virginia and started her own bed of the white blossoms.

Years later Shirley's brother, Michael,  dug some up for himself... took them from Virginia back to Alabama where they'd started, and now he has a bed of them next to his deck. Makes for such a sweet-smelling setting. 

Although the plant is called a ginger lily the bulbs are not edible, however the flowers and buds can to added to salads and other foods. 

African Violets

 Over the years I have tried a hand at growing African Violets. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. All depended on what kind of lighting I had available. 

And, sometimes I'd overwater! 

I have one now that has done very well in indirect light in my dining room. 

Here are some from other times I've had African Violets. 

                                                  Do you grow African Violets? Which color do you prefer? 

Far East Beauty

 I had never seen one of these... well, to tell the truth there is a lot of things I've never seen... but getting back to talking about flowers... 

My daughter Shirley bought one of these and brought it home. She said it was a Siam Tulip. Come to find out the flower isn't even a tulip but belongs to the ginger family. It originated in the far East (Laos, Cambodia and Thailand) but is sold here (evidently since Shirley bought one! 😃). 

Her's has been a steady bloomer and so pretty sitting on her side porch. Is this flower new to you,  too? Just wondering 

                                                            SIAM TULIP

Cascades of White

 The Crepe Myrtle is about finished it's blooming season. It's not a favorite flower of mine and I am not particularly fond of the white ones. Love the Watermelon Red Crepe Myrtle  but the 'tree's here where I live are white. Wouldn't you know it? And, they are huge... tops of them past my third floor balcony so as I sit out there I am greeted by blossoms.

Occasionally I will take a picture (when I run out  of anything to photograph) so I want to share some of those shots with you today. 

This first one I was caught by the 'heart' shape of the cluster of tiny flowers. It was framed since I thought it was special. 

So, now we wait until next Spring when the blossoms will return.

Farm Market Find

My son and I went to a farm market where he lives in Athens, Alabama a few years back. We wandered among the fresh veggies, bright red tomatoes, frilly green cabbage, huge onions, jars of honey, handmade crafts and more. 

Michael was gathering up a  few things for us to carry home... and then I saw this sweet little bouquet of purple, white and yellow flowers. I immediately fell in love with it... so it came back to his house with me.

Don't you just love making a happy choice of flowers or anything for that matter? We need joy in our lives and that little bouquet brought me joy! It's long gone now but I still am reliving that joy through the photographs I made of it.         

A Fern-like Vine

I discovered a strange looking vine growing on a fence at my sister-in-law's house. I had never seen it before so I asked for some seeds. 

We moved to Virginia (from Alabama) in 1999 and I must have brought those seeds with me. I strowed them along a tall fence in the back yard of our new home. They came up and for a season or two was doing quite well and then..... gone!

                                                                   (my photograph)

Years went by,  probably five or so, when one day I saw a small sprout of fern looking vine starting up the fence again. It was back after all those years. 

                                                            OUR FEATURE FLOWER

                                                                    CYPRESS VINE

It's native of Mexico and Central America and grows very well in the southern states of the US. It has fern like foliage which will close up in hot sun but opens back when in a cooler atmosphere. The red star-shaped flowers are abundant on the vines and are quite striking. They are small so it takes a lot of them to make a statement. 

                                                               (my photograph)

Butterflies and hummingbirds love them. 

I wonder why we don't see more of this plant since we are to encourage the butterflies in our gardens. 

I moved away from my house 9 years ago and that plant is still going strong for the new occupants.