A (DOG) ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME...

On our recent trip to Tassie, Pam and I were taken with all the flowers along the side of the roads wondering what they were. 

Finally we stopped near enough to take photos and found they are dog roses. Perfect for the Animal Crackers series. However, I didn't notice any fragrance so that I could finish the title with "would smell as sweet".
***

In an interesting aside, during that same trip we often noticed fields of white flowers, and we idly wondered what the farmers were growing that was so pretty.  Eventually, curiosity got the better of us and I was able to stop at a U turn close enough to use the camera (but still too far away really). Turns out they are poppies and after further investigation I found out there is an opium industry in Tassie. Who knew? It is in decline apparently though and you can read more about that here.

SUNDAY WALK...

To be honest, I've only managed a few Sunday Walks in the 4 months I've been living in Maleny (mainly due to the weather - too hot or too wet) but each walk has been very pleasant. Lots of interesting floral, fauna and statuary around.

I was pleased to find such a beautiful example of Indian clock vine here and it's been in flower for months, prompting me to see if I could find a spot in my own garden for it...

Absolutely love this giraffe left to graze in the front garden of a local doctor's surgery...

When I left this morning with only my phone camera I should have known there would be something for which I'd need the longer zoom of a camera. These wallabies/roos were off in a distant field...

A couple of the amazing camellias that grow in the area...

This blue butterfly flower is a prime example for my Animal Crackers but decided to include it here instead...

I was thrilled to spot a cactus flower and will try to remember to go back this evening, weather permitting, to see if it opens again or if any others are out. The cactus plant itself is huge, growing up into a large pine tree. Maybe it's a dragon fruit... 

 I suppose this one is from the ginger family and is quite common around Maleny;  gorgeous... 

 I have a couple of pots still with nodding violets but think this planting I spotted in a nearby yard is so spectacular, I might replant mine into something similar... 

Strictly speaking this sweet little treefrog is a Saturday photo...

Unfortunately, not all critters found on walks are so lovely. Got this one out of my head, where it had dropped in for a feed... 

COOROY COLLAGES...

In July last year when I first visited the Noosa Botanic Gardens in Cooroy, I was fascinated by quite big fruits growing on several large shrubs/trees called Elephant Apples.  Today I returned and guess what? The fruits look much the same, slightly more yellow is all, despite the signage saying they flower in summer. When one was cut open it was layers of fibrous flaps enclosing what looked like banana flowers.  There were quite a few lying on the ground and let me say if one hit an elephant on the head, it would get a headache I think. They are pretty hefty "fruit". Read more about the apple  here. It appears I missed the flowering and so will have to keep returning to catch them. Tragic because you know how much I hate the Gardens... not!

Today I was also treated to a climbing frangipani. I've seen native frangipani but this one is a hardy looking vine which I'd not heard of before (not difficult as I'm fairly ignorant about lots of plants) which was climbing up a palm tree. The flowers were subtlety perfumed.

I love cassia and this Rainbow Shower example is also new to me. What a delight! From under the very shady branches the flowers look more yellow but you can see from outside more pink/red and in the close up, lots of different tones. An absolute stunner.

Honestly, the people who live near these Gardens are very, very lucky. I wish it was on my doorstep, not a 30 min drive away.  

ANIMAL CRACKERS XIX - CUTE AS PUPPIES...

It's been four years since I put up an Animal Crackers post and I've only just found out that this little sweetie qualifies, having taken the photo a month ago.  Meet the Pink River Rose or Dog Rose bauera rubioides. This specimen is growing in the Noosa Botanic Gardens by the pond there.  Perhaps I'll find some more qualifiers there if I look hard enough.

ANIMAL CRACKERS XVIII - THAT'S NOT A SHRIMP!

Back in January this plant was originally posted as a "What's This?" (a question I answered before posting); white shrimp or justicia betonica. Yesterday on my walk I noticed they're out in flower again and it occurred to me that I'd completely missed the name as being suitable for my "Animal Crackers" series at the time(duh!), so as moderator, I decided I could repost it.  It's a pretty leggy sort of plant and the examples I've seen haven't been particularly stunning.  I'll stick to throwing my shrimps on the barbie.

ANIMAL CRACKERS XVII - WHAT AN OINKER!

The beautifully bright face of pigface, like this example, is very attractive to native bees as you can see. I suspect that this one is a cultivar as it seems larger and more layered that those you see growing on dunes.
Definitely one of my favourite flowers and pretty useful too if you've got scurvy, lack salt or have insect bites...

ANIMAL CRACKERS XVI - BERRY NICE WOMBAT?

 I spent another Sunday doing a long bush walk thanks to Horizon Guides and this time it was very enjoyable.  I was fitter going in and it wasn't raining so I found nothing much to complain about except my appalling inability to capture decent bird images.  The minute birds see me they turn their backs to the camera, use their superpower to become unfocussed or just fly away laughing their heads off but that's a story for another time.

I did manage to capture these pretty berries which Teresa, our expert guide, informed me are Wombat Berries.  If I'd known when I snapped them that they were edible, I may have been able to give you a fuller description but you can read about them here.

ANIMAL CRACKERS XV - A LOAD OF BULL!

 It's been a while since I've posted an Animal Crackers photo, having run out of eligible names around my area, so I was thrilled to find a small stand of bulrushes the other day.

This one is going to seed or is it flowering?

ANIMAL CRACKERS XIV - SPIDERWORT

I believe this pretty little flower is spiderwort, and that unfortunate name derives from the web-like filaments around the stamen. Please correct me if you know it as something else.  Some of the spiderwort photos I found look nothing like this vibrant beauty, which is cultivated in a friend's garden. Another article I found stated that they could detect radiation!
[edit 22/10/11 - Tradescantea x andersoniana it is, but all the sites I've trawled list it as spiderwort so it fits my animal crackers series! :)]

ANIMAL CRACKERS XIII - TICK ORCHID

The name of this pretty orchid is derived from the shape of the leaves which look like fat ticks (uggh!) but is also called thumbnail orchid which,I guess, is a slightly less repulsive nickname for such a beautiful flower.  Read more about it here.

ANIMAL CRACKERS XII - KANGAROO PAWS

Kangaroo paws are such an unusual looking plant aren't they?  Of course, nowadays they come in all sorts of different colours and sizes. 

ANIMAL CRACKERS XI - PIGEON PEA

I'd never heard of this plant before seeing it at the Queensland Garden Expo earlier this month.  Read all about it here; it has the usual lovely flower of the pea plant of course, although no pods to be seen on this plant yet. 

ANIMAL CRACKERS X - IT'S A DOG BANE LIFE

I thought I was going to have to start a new segment for this one under "Monday Mystery" because when I went on line to read about this plant, what was described and pictured was totally different.  However, I've persevered and eventually found the right Dog Bane. I saw it at the Queensland Garden Expo and immediately thought it was fat lavender.  

It is called dog bane because dogs don't like it apparently and it can be made into a spray to use as a repellent.

ANIMAL CRACKERS IX - CRAB CLAW CACTUS

I adore this plant, so named because of the claw shaped 'leaves', also commonly known as zygocactus and christmas cactus,  although its botanical name is schlumbergera. It's very easy to grow and you are rewarded beautifully for your efforts.  I did learn early not to move a plant when it's budding as the buds try to turn back towards wherever the light was before and if it's too far, they break off. They don't like direct sunlight either.  I have several different colours including a very red one which flowers at a different time to the rest.  

ANIMAL CRACKERS VIII - LEAPING LEOPARDS

Beautiful to look at and apparently very clever too.  Check out the uses for Leopard Lily here.

ANIMAL CRACKERS VII - COCK-A-DOODLE DOOO

I was surprised to read that this beautiful plant is edible (the leaves used as a vegetable like a spinach apparently) and is very popular in Asia and Africa.  Celosia comes in a variety of shapes and colours and very easy to grow.

ANIMAL CRACKERS VI - BAT FLOWERS

I'd only ever seen photos of this intriguing flower before so was delighted to find some in full flower at my local nursery and bought one for myself, although it will be a couple of years before I get any flowers!  This is the black bat flower or Tacca Chantrieri and there is also a white bat flower (Tacca integrifolia) which is even more striking with its white 'ears'.  Will keep an eye out for one and post a photo.  See here for how to look after them if you buy one.

ANIMAL CRACKERS V - CAT O' RED TAILS

Next in the Animal Crackers series is the red Cats Tail, Chenille plant or Acalypha reptans, and should be a favourite of anyone else who loves cats and chenille.  It's a very attractive ground cover and this one was growing very well under a shady tree yet I've seen some growing in full sun.  While searching for the botanical name, "cats tail plant" brought up pictures of what I know as bull rush.  Ooh! Another one for the series.

BIRDS IN PARADISE - ANIMAL CRACKERS IV

This tropical beauty is quite spectacular particularly when the plant is flowering profusely,Strelitzia, Crane Flower or Bird of Paradise.  Read more about it here. Does anyone else think it should be called Woody Woodpecker??  

IT'S THE CAT'S WHISKERS - ANIMAL CRACKERS III

Until I read up on this plant here, I didn't realise Cat's Whiskers is a herb. It's an unusual but lovely flower isn't it? Took this shot from the footpath of a nearby house so it's not as detailed as I'd like, but you get the picture.