Wednesday, November 03, 2010

No Big Bang, but is it a starburst?

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON (Image ID: 131-6722)


As soon as I saw these plants in our local nursery, I snapped them up - and now they grace the garden at Casa Authorblog. They burst into bloom at the start of spring and are extremely sun-sensitive, so they close up at night and in cloudy conditions.

The plants are called "osteospermum" – the white variety in the foreground is called Afrikaan pearl and the deep pink one in the background is called Afrikaan crystal.

34 comments:

The Quintessential Magpie said...

David, that is a wonderful plant! I not only love the colors of the two shown here, but their design. I can see why you planted them in your garden.

XO,

Sheila :-)

Hilary said...

Oh they're beautiful. I can't blame you one bit for snapping them up.

Katney said...

And they are gorgeous. Easy to care for? or finnicky?

Tess Kincaid said...

Oh, they're wonderful. So exotic. Perfect for Casa Authorblog. Right, it's spring in your neck of the woods, isn't it?

Daryl said...

I have snapped pix of the same flower here ... but I didnt know its name, it answers to hey you ...

aims said...

What an incredible flower! So beautiful and unusual all at the same time. I've never heard of these before.

You guys get all the great stuff! Fantastic foliage - extremely poisonous spiders and snakes - crocodiles and alligators....... :0)

You DO know that I'm terrified of the snakes don't you?

Charles Gramlich said...

Lana's got some pics of a flower very similar to this one. Some kind of passion flower.

Jules~ said...

Those are so beautiful! I love the creative artwork that God so freely displays just to bring us a smile.

I personally don't have a green thumb at all, though I have managed to keep a couple of violets alive over the years. My mom on the other hand is a queen at tending the garden. Anytime I want to get wrapped up in a million kinds of flora all I have to do is take the short 10 minute drive from my house to hers and sit by her lil' man made pond. I say that gives me the best of both worlds. I get to enjoy without having the work to show for it.

Blessings to you today.

imac said...

They are beautiful David.

Maggie May said...

We also have these plants in English gardens (during summer) but I've never seen such a lovely variety as this.
Maggie X

Nuts in May

Rosaria Williams said...

Great to see you back in blogland.

Bernie said...

I love the Afrikaan pearl....don't think I have ever seen it before.
......:-) hugs

OJ Gonzalez-Cazares said...

amazing flowers, so vivid! - love the purple tones... don't we all close at night? (for a beauty sleep at least) - ;)

Rune Eide said...

Starburst is right - and you have shot it so well (just the right composition) that I will forgive you for having spring/summer when we have autumn/winter...)

PS I owe you an E-mail - it will be forthcoming :-)

david mcmahon said...

Thank you, Sheila - they are a wonderful precursor to spring.

david mcmahon said...

Hilary, as soon as I saw them, I said ``I'll have that one and that one and ....''!!

david mcmahon said...

Katney, they're very hardy. Very easy to care for.

david mcmahon said...

Yes, Willow, it's spring here, but we have had a return to winter this week - as is very common here in Melbourne!

david mcmahon said...

Daryl, I'm still laughing at that name. I'll try it here and let you know if it works!

david mcmahon said...

Hi Aims, we don't get too many snakes, but our spiders are pretty ugly!

david mcmahon said...

Thanks, Charles - I didn't know about the passion flower connection. My thanks to you and Lana.

david mcmahon said...

Julie - I have to meet your mother and trade secrets with her!

david mcmahon said...

Thanks, iMac - I grew up in a home with an amazing garden and a few years ago had the chance to take the kids there.

david mcmahon said...

Thanks, Maggie - the petals had me sold on the plant immediately.

david mcmahon said...

Thanks so much for dropping bym Lakeviewer - and for following my blog.

david mcmahon said...

I'd never seen it before either, Bernie - which is why I bought it immediately!

david mcmahon said...

OJ, you are so right about beauty sleep!

david mcmahon said...

RuneE, I look forward to your email. So glad you like this shot.

Shrinky said...

Oh my goodness, I have never seen flowers like these before, aren't they something? How beautiful!

Digital Flower Pictures said...

What a nice exotic version of the African Daisy. These flowers are often referred to as Freeway Daisies in California as they are planted along the roads. They don't like our summers here but often have a ®enaissance later in the season.

Rune Eide said...

Ne again - The E-mail address I had didn't work, so I sent it via Red Bubble. I hope that worked :-)

Sniffles and Smiles said...

They are most certainly jewels, David! And this photo is exquisite! Love, love, love it! Just stopping in to wave a friendly "hello," to you, my friend!!! Warmly, Janine

Midlife Roadtripper said...

Always lovely to discover a new variety. Beautiful.

Land of shimp said...

Those are gorgeous. Visually almost interchangeable with stained glass. I've never seen anything like them.