January 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere

[Paul T]

Luc,

Glad you're enjoying them.  That's why I post them.... I can see them outside in my garden any time!! 

[Paul T]

Here's something I picked up just recently, never having seen or heard of it before.....

Hydrangea involucrata.  The buds look so much like Bethel sage (Salvia involucrata var bethellii) that obvious the bud form is the involucrata bit.    Just love it as they unfold from that tight round bud to the lovely deep blue-purple flowers surrounded randomly by sterile white flowers with purple centres.  It has fuzzy leaves as well, making it stand out even more as a strange Hydrangea.  Great Stuff!!  Also picked up a piece of a double white/pale pink (H. i. 'Hortensis') at the same place, although this is just a rooted runner (Yes, it produces runners, something I've never seen in a Hydrangea before).

Enjoy!!

[annew]

I love your photo of tree ferns in the fog!

[Lvandelft]

Hydrangea involucrata.  The buds look so much like Bethel sage (Salvia involucrata var bethellii) that obvious the bud form is the involucrata bit.

Paul, I always admired those people who could name a plant in Latin so striking,
that everybody in the whole world knows what it means.
This picture is really a beautiful example of such a plant, seeing how the envelop is opening itself.
Nice pics of the other plants too.

[Paul T]

Thanks Luit.   

Anne, I was pretty pleased with the fernery pics as well.  I really wasn't sure how they'd turn out once onto the computer, but there really wasn't much editing at all other than cropping them a bit to improve the photo arrangement.  It was rather nice in person too, as you could feel that bit of cooling mist on the warm day.  I've seen the misters on before, but never noticed them concentrate into a fog quite so well before.  Glad you liked the pic.