28 October 2008

Autumn - Bougainvillea


Bougainvillea in a Gorbio garden - an olive tree in the foreground - fallen olives on the steps.

The photograph was taken on the 11th October and it's still in flower today. Actually, the flowers you see are not flowers, but 'bracts.' The actual flower of the bougainvillea is small and generally white. Each cluster of three flowers is surrounded by three or six bracts in the bright colours associated with the plant - here a beautiful pinky/red.

The name comes from Louis Antoine de Bougainville, an admiral in the French Navy who discovered the plant in Brazil in 1768.

That's our horticultural lesson for today!

14 comments:

  1. What a lovely staircase! Bougainville is such a beautiful and strong plant. I love it.

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  2. très belle photo avec cet escalier de pierre

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  3. Beautifully composed. The bouganvillea must be kin to poinsettia in some way but we don't have to delve into that one!HA Silly question: Can you eat those olives that fall? I am afraid I don't know much about them except I LOVE olives of all kinds. In Paris we had some green ones that were in a lemony very very tart liquid. Good but sour!

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  4. Bougainvillea is such a natural beauty in all of its random form. It gives up its beauty and elegance to honor the shepherds hut as well as the Prince's Palace.

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  5. The colours and composition are lovely Jilly.

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  6. What a beautiful garden, Jilly! And I definitely love the angle you take.

    YOur yesterday's post is also great.

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  7. Excellent photography.

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  8. It's a beautiful scene, and I love the way it is composed which shows off all the different textures.

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  9. Beautiful Gorbio! I didn't know that the plant originated in Brazil. What a wonderful gift to the rest of the garden world Louis Antoine gave.

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  10. This is such a lovely spot!

    Bougainvillea is also common here but much as I love the color they add to a garden, I decided to cut ours down because you have to sweep up the fallen flowers (bracts) everyday! The thorns make trimming them so difficult too.

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  11. Really stunning shot Jilly. Your are The Queen of Framing!!!!

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  12. You found a beautiful spot Jilly. I love how it makes me feel like I am standing there.

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  13. A place for reflection and harmony.
    Good photo!

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