FLOWER SHOPPING

At the South Melbourne market.

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SEASONAL

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and also part of the Seasons meme

SPEEDWELL

A vibrant cluster of low-growing Speedwell  cultivar 'Georgia Blue' (Veronica), used as  popular groundcover.

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BLOSSOM TIME

Celebrating Vernal Equinox in Melbourne today, with blossoming spring trees.

This post is part of the Travel Tuesday meme

and also part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme

FIREWHEEL

Stenocarpus sinuatus, known as the Firewheel Tree is an Australian rainforest tree in the Proteaceae family. The range of natural distribution is in various rainforest types from the Nambucca River (30° S) in New South Wales to the Atherton Tableland (17° S) in tropical Queensland. However, Stenocarpus sinuatus is widely planted as an ornamental tree in other parts of Australia and in different parts of the world.

Other common names include White Beefwood, Queensland Firewheel Tree, Tulip Flower and White Silky Oak It is a medium to large tree, up to 40 metres tall and 75 cm in trunk diameter. The bark is greyish brown, not smooth and irregular. The base of the cylindrical trunk is flanged. Leaves alternate and variable in shape, simple or pinnatifid, the leaf margins wavy, 12 to 20 cm long. Leaf venation is clearly seen above and below the leaf. Leaves are characteristic and easily identified as part of the Proteaceae family.

The ornamental flowers are bright red in umbels, in a circular formation, hence the name Firewheel Tree. Flowers form mostly between February to March. The fruit is a follicle, in a boat shape, 5 to 10 cm long. Inside are many thin seeds 12 mm long. Fruit matures from January to July. Regeneration from fresh seed occurs speedily. Cuttings also strike well.

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LEUCADENDRON

Leucadendron is a genus of about 80 species of flowering plants in the family Proteaceae, endemic to the Cape Provinces and KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, where they are a prominent part of the fynbos ecoregion and vegetation type. Many hybrids have been developed and as well as being decorative garden shrubs, they make excellent cut flowers.

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GERALDTON WAX FLOWER

Geraldton Wax (Chamelaucium uncinatum), an Australian native evergreen shrub featuring masses of small, waxy pink and purple flowers with contrasting dark centres.

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PLUM BLOSSOM

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SWEET VIOLETS

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SPRING

Spring is coming early this year. We've had a glorious, warm sunny day today and in a walk around the neighbourhood, many of the Spring bulbs were out and some had already perished. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology officially declared an active El Niño event on June 16, 2026, marking the first time the pattern has been established in nearly three years. Driven by record-fast warming in the central tropical Pacific, current oceanic and atmospheric indicators point to a strong—potentially historic—event persisting through the rest of 2026 and into early 2027.

This post is part of the Mosaic Monday meme,
and also part of the Seasons meme

AEONIUM

These bright yellow, star-shaped inflorescences (clusters of star-like blossoms) are characteristic of a flowering succulent from the genus Aeonium (such as Aeonium arboreum), belonging to the stonecrop family Crassulaceae.

The insect resting on the yellow flowers is a Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens). It has a long, slender black body that mimics the appearance of a wasp to ward off predators, though it lacks a stinger and is completely harmless. As adults, they are important, docile pollinators that feed gently on flower nectar. Their larvae are highly beneficial decomposers used globally to recycle organic kitchen and garden waste into rich compost.

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MOSSY SAXIFRAGE

Saxifraga x arendsii, also known as mossy saxifrage or rockfoil.The plants form low-growing, mounded mats of evergreen foliage.The specific variety shown is the "Early Picotee" type, which has pale pink petals that shade to a creamy white in the centre.

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BANKSIA SPINULOSA

Banksia spinulosa, the compact 'Birthday Candles' hybrid, which is widely available in Australia in 14cm to 175mm pots.The plant is a dwarf shrub recognised by its dense, needle-like foliage and vibrant flower spikes with golden-yellow styles and contrasting purple/red tips.

It is a hardy Australian native that thrives in well-drained soil, is frost-tolerant, and grows to approximately 0.5m in height.This species is excellent for attracting wildlife, particularly birds, and is well-suited for rockeries, small gardens, or container gardening.

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"I'M FIRST"

Our crazy weather continues. In midwinter, a Callery pear blossom appears...

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SPANISH LAVENDER

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DAISY SULPHATE

A digital collage of gerberas and daisies on copper sulphate (blue vitriol) crystals. I'm starting to see lawn daisies come up even though it's midwinter! Very strange weather we're experiencing...

This post is part of the Mosaic Monday meme,
And also part of the Seasons meme

HOTHOUSE ROSES

Just the thing for a Melbourne Winter!

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme,

and also part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.

CHAMOMILE

Chamomile (or camomile) is the common name for several daisy-like plants of the family Asteraceae that are often used to make herbal infusions to serve various medicinal purposes. Popular uses of chamomile preparations include treating hay fever, inflammation, muscle spasms, menstrual disorders, insomnia, ulcers, gastrointestinal disorders, and haemorrhoids. Chamomile tea is also used to treat skin conditions such as eczema, chickenpox and psoriasis.

The word ‘chamomile’ derives, via French and Latin, from Greek χαμαίμηλον (khamaimēlon), i.e. ‘earth apple’, from χαμαί (khamai) ‘on the ground’ and μῆλον (mēlon) ‘apple’. The more common British spelling ‘camomile’, is the older one in English, while the spelling ‘chamomile’ corresponds to the Latin and Greek source.  

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WINTER

This post is part of the Mosaic Monday meme,
and also part of the Seasons meme

JACOB'S LADDER

Attractive, dense ferny foliage makes Polemonium pulcherrimum 'Blue Dove' (also known as Jacob's ladder) a valuable plant for all year round interest in the garden. As an added bonus loose sprays of open bell shaped flowers in a soft shade of blue can appear from spring right through to and including autumn. Its 'lacy' appearance makes it a useful plant for softening hard lines and edges created by rocks, garden edging or paving.

Polemonium is a genus comprising of around 30 species of mostly perennial herbs which are native to regions of North and Central America, Europe and Asia. An excellent plant for general garden use and suitable for most colour schemes. 'Blue Dove' looks particularly at home in woodland type settings or in the cottage garden.

It may be grown in semi shade although this may decrease flower production. This, however, is not necessarily a reason to avoid planting it in such locations as the attractive foliage alone will lend a visual appeal to these often difficult landscaping zones. To accent the foliage further create a foil of foliage behind it using larger, broader leafed plants or those with tall slender foliage such as that of Irises.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme