Flowers Forever 3

Although I was at the Kadoorie Farm for less than half a day, it felt as if I had been there for an eternity.  For the several hours I was there, my eyes never had a moment's respite. There were so many different kinds of flowers: such variety, such abundance, such profusion and such glory. But whether novel or familiar, I was often dumbstruck by the delicacy of their petals, the intricacy of their sepals, petals, stamens etc and by the amazing cunningness with which they display their charm. I've done the red ones and the yellow ones. Time now to pay a little attention to some less dramatic and more subtle colors.

To attract attention, these tiny flowers 馬纓丹 (?) huddle close to each other to give the appearance of a much larger flower.

A radiating ball of white flowers (lilies?) in various stages of development

These purple ones are doing exactly the same. They're called Africa Lily (百子蓮). Wonder what their Chinese name has got to do with lotus flower.

But whatever the reason may be, they're simply adorable!

So are these!

And these...

and these

These white flowers growing on a tree appear to have adopted a similar strategy. I just learned that they're called Hong Kong Pavetta (大沙葉 or 茜木)

A floral concerto ?

What are these? They certainly look like lilies. But are they?

More white flowers but these seem to have another bright red flower at their tip.

Not only that, they've got really long stamens. I wonder why they have to be so long.

Instead of sticking up, they hang down, like some bashful young ladies who dare not look up..They're called Mock or Hainan Elaecarpus (水石榕)

Yet how fine and how delicate are their lines.

Two other tiny white flowers whose name I don't know.

Some whitish pink little flower with its yellow stamen standing proudly at its tip.

These are jasmines They got white petals but some are fringed by a dull pink/purple streaks.

Don't these flowers look like a half-size pineapple with white flowers sticking out its side? But they're only buds.

They're a kind of orchid called "white calanthe" (三褶蝦脊蘭) !

What is this? A light? If so, how would it look when lit? Or simply a decoration? Whatever it is, got to move on and look at some other flowers.

This is the bud of the peony  野牡丹

This is what it looks like when it opens out. Some stamens are yellow but others are purple!

Some purple water lilies.

A giant drop of water collecting upon one of its leaves.

More water drops collecting upon the leaves of another water plant.

The rain which fell whilst I was there obviously was welcomed by these African lilies.




The raindrops confer a certain sheen of freshness to the flowers which adds enormously to their charm..

Raindrops collecting at the base of the flower.

But leaves need not be all in one color.

Their colors can change too depending upon the stage of life in its growth/death cycle.

Some leaves growing between the crevices of rocks.

What are these? I didn't know. Until I looked at the display placard at their bottom. Chillis !

More chillis ! Never knew chillis could look so beautiful. But I don't think I'm alone.

And don't have the idea that only flowers can look beautiful. Look how intricate the curls of this tendril is. It belongs to the 絲瓜, Simply incredible !

I'm sure he'll agree. Um, yummy !