Tag Archives: flowers

nature, weekly photo challenge

Cactus flower

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The huge beautiful flowers of this specific cactus Echinopsis oxygona, with common name Easter lily cactus, drew my attention. I found  the contrast of the flower size with the cactus, very interesting.

Cactus Echinopsis oxygona flower (Easter lily cactus)

Another fascinating particularity of the flower is that it opens in the evening and wilts the next afternoon on hot days. On cool days it will last longer.

Cactus Echinopsis oxygona flower (Easter lily cactus)

I remember that my uncle, who brought us this cactus, was very charmed with its flowers. Now I understand the reason!

This post is part of the Daily Post’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Evanescent

close-up, Photography

Clivia Miniata

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Clivia miniata (Natal lily, bush lily) is a species of flowering plant in the genus Clivia of the family Amaryllidaceae, native to South Africa. It is a popular plant for shaded areas, which grows into large clumps; it doesn’t need much water and is normally cultivated as a houseplant.

red Clivia miniata flowers - Natal lily, bush lily

Clivia miniata flowers are red, orange or yellow and they stay in bloom longer than most flowers. They can be used as cut flowers as well. Just keep in mind that they contain small amounts of lycorine, making it poisonous.

red Clivia miniata flowers - Natal lily, bush lily

These beautiful Clivia miniata flowers bloomed the past few days in our garden.  I pass by them everyday but somehow I didn’t have the urge to photograph them.  After a long consideration, I decided  that I should take some photos for my portfolio.  And I’m glad I did. The results were really rewarding!

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nature, Photography

A beautiful flower

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It’s really impressive that, this year our garden has more species of  wildflowers than before, such as the Wild Garlic, Allium Ampeloprasum, Muscari Parviflorum, Gladiolus Italicus, Narcissus Tazetta, Cyclamen Persicum and, last but not least, this beautiful flower called Gynandriris Sisyrinchium.

Barbary Nut, Moraea Sisyrinchium, Gynandriris Sisyrinchium

Barbary Nut is the common name of Gynandriris Sisyrinchium (syn. Moraea Sisyrinchium) which  is native to the Mediterranean region. The flowers don’t open unless the day is warm and often not until late afternoon and they do not last very long.

Barbary Nut, Moraea Sisyrinchium, Gynandriris Sisyrinchium
Gynandriris Sisyrinchium (Barbary Nut) | by karafc

Don’t think that I became a flower expert all of a sudden. Quite  recently, I found  a book in my mom’s library called The Medical Flowers of Cyprus. It is a wealth of information about the flora of Cyprus, so finally I can gather information easier 🙂