Tuesday 15 April 2008

Orange makes the garden glow

Orange occurs between red and yellow in the visible spectrum at a wavelength of about 585 – 620 nm, and has a hue of 30° in HSV colour space. The complementary colour of orange is azure, a slightly greenish blue. With pigments such as paints or inks, a mixture of the subtractive primary colours in the proportion of 75% yellow and 25% magenta produce the secondary colour orange. Orange pigments are largely in the ochre or cadmium families, and absorb mostly blue light. Wikipedia



Sunrise at Wooli



WOOLI
Warm tropical currents from the north merge with cooler southern currents on the coast off Wooli, and the amazing diversity of life this fosters is protected by the Solitary Islands Marine Park. Of great interest to researchers and conservationists and a popular destination for anglers, divers and family groups, this marine park even features hard and soft corals. Deep sea fishing tours and dive tours are also available.
On land, Wooli is surrounded by the Yuraygir National Park, and bushwalking and surfing on the unspoiled beaches are popular. There is plenty of accommodation and camping facilities and the small business centre provides most services.




Old fashioned Daylili, brilliant colour and good texture.





Soft orange lanterns of Abutilon stand out, always growing from the ends.





Orange Hibiscus with dark red eye is an unusual colour combination but it works.





Strelitzia, Bird of Paradise are always eye catchers.

Strelitzia reginae is a monocotyledonous flowering plant indigenous to South Africa. Common names include Strelitzia, Crane Flower or Bird of Paradise, though these names are also collectively applied to other species in the genus Strelitzia. Its scientific name commemorates Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, queen consort of King George III.
The plant grows to 2 m (6½ ft) tall, with large, strong leaves 25-70 cm (10-28 in) long and 10-30 cm (4-12 in) broad, produced on petioles up to 1 m (about 40 in) long. The leaves are evergreen and arranged in two ranks, making a fan-shaped crown. The flowers stand above the foliage at the tips of long stalks. The hard, beak-like sheath from which the flower emerges is termed the spathe. This is placed perpendicular to the stem, which gives it the appearance of a bird's head and beak; it makes a durable perch for holding the sunbirds which pollinate the flowers. The flowers, which emerge one at a time from the spathe, consist of three brilliant orange sepals and three purplish-blue petals. Two of the blue petals are joined together to form an arrow-like nectary. When the sunbirds sit to drink the nectar, the petals open to cover their feet in pollen. Wikipedia


In winter the orchard looks transformed with orange coloured fruit winking from the trees.





I love Crucifix Orchids, and this orange one calls out for attention.


Epidendrum, abbreviated Epi in horticultural trade, is a large neotropical genus of the orchid family, commonly known as the star orchid or crucifix orchid. With more than 1,100 species, some authors refer to it as a mega-genus. The genus name (from Greek, "growing on trees") refers to its epiphytic growth habit. When Carolus Linnaeus named this genus in 1763, he included in this genus all the epiphytic orchids known to him. However, few of these orchids are still included in the genus Epidendrum. Wikipedia











I love this Canna in my garden with its satiny, orange flowers. The striped leaves are very attractive too.








Canna (or Canna lily, although not a true lily) is a genus of approximately twenty species of flowering plants.[1][2] The closest living relations to cannas are the other plant families of the order Zingiberales, that is the gingers, bananas, marantas, heliconias, strelitzias, etc.[3]
Canna is the only genus in the family Cannaceae. Such a family has almost universally been recognized by taxonomists. The APG II system of 2003 (unchanged from the APG system, 1998) also recognizes the family, and assigns it to the order Zingiberales in the clade commelinids, in the monocots.
The species have large, attractive foliage and horticulturists have turned it into a large-flowered, brash, bright and sometimes gaudy, garden plant. In addition, it is one of the world's richest starch sources, and is an agricultural plant.[3]
Although a plant of the tropics, most cultivars have been developed in temperate climates and are easy to grow in most countries of the world as long as they can enjoy about 6 hours average sunlight during the summer. See the Canna cultivar gallery for photographs of Canna cultivars.
The name Canna originates from the Celtic word for a cane or reed.[4][5] Wikipedia








Miniature Zinnia likes a hot,sunny spot and seeds profusely but is not invasive. In a hot climate one has to be careful with invasive plants, because everything, especially the ones one doesn't want spread like wildfire.





Believe it or not:

A garden without trees scarcely deserves to be called a garden.

Canon Henry Ellacombe 1790 - 1885

13 comments:

Rurality said...

I have been wondering if I might need some of those those little zinnias! They are cute! I have a planter shaped like a chicken that I think may just be crying out for them... :)

Lavender and Vanilla Friends of the Gardens said...

Karen, I think a chicken planter would be the right place for these "downtoearth" Zinnias. They come also in a creamy white colour with a dark eye, very pretty too.

Anonymous said...

Trudi, I am jealous if those Birds of Paradise are from your garden. I love all the orange you featured. I can't wait until my daylilies bloom.

Sylvia (England) said...

Beautiful plants and beautiful garden. Thank you for your comment about invasive plants, we are all envious of the plants you grow, but there must be lots you would like and can't grow. Every place has its advantages and disadvantages.

Best wishes Sylvia (England)

Lavender and Vanilla Friends of the Gardens said...

Thanks Jayme, for you message. Yes the Strelizia grows in my garden. Thgis one is about 20 years old. All the Photos are from my garden.
It won't be long and you can admire your daylilis. They grow here well, but not the dormant ones,only evergreens or semi dormant.
Sylvia thank you for visiting. Yes you are right, I would like to grow all the fantasic spring flowers, tulips etc. And I wish I had a rose garden!

Marie said...

I don't have the time to read your post right now, but I love the photos!

Anonymous said...

My, what lovely colors! Your plant knowledge astounds me as well! Where did you live in England?

Anonymous said...

Oops, I mean Europe!!

Lavender and Vanilla Friends of the Gardens said...

Hi Marie nice to hear from you, thank youfor your comment.

Mo thanks for your message. I lived in Switzerland, near lake Constance.

chey said...

I love a touch of orange in the garden. Wonderful photos Trudi!!

Lavender and Vanilla Friends of the Gardens said...

Thank you chey, for visiting.

Pia K said...

Beautiful, I love orange! It's not pink, but it's darn close:)

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