Similar Posts

  • Gazania or African Daisy – Vibrant Hot Colours

    Gazania or African Daisies are bold, bright flowers with hot colours that are suited to sunny, dry climates. Although being in the same family, they are a different genus to Osteospermum plants that are also commonly referred to as African Daisies. These plants are drought tolerant and like to have full sun to be at their best. Being in the shade will make the flowers close and may then grow thin taller stems unable to support the large flower head.

    Gazania African Daisy 12

    Rank

    Genus

    Names

    Scientific name:

    Gazania

    Common Names:

    African Daisy, Treasure Flower

    Genus:

    Gazania

    Family:

    Asteraceae

    Related Plants:

    Aster, Daisy, Sunflower

    Growing Conditions

    Position:

    full sun

    Soil Type:

    sandy, loamy

    Soil pH:

    weak-acid, neutral, weak-alkaline

    Moisture:

    dry, well drained

  • Hornet Mimic Hoverfly – Volucella zonaria

    Hornet Mimic Hoverfly – (Volucella zonaria, family:Syrphidae). This very large hoverfly was largely absent from the UK until after 1940 but is now a relatively common sight. On initial sight you are thinking Hornet, but these have much bigger eyes and thankfully no sting. Very impressive at about an inch long with a wide body and impressive wingspan.

    Good pollinators, this one was busy on the Buddleja as can be seen from all the pollen collected around the abdomen. It was resting on the Indian Bean Tree making for a good clear image.

    hornet mimic hoverfly - Volucella zonaria

  • Common Passion Flower – Adore Them

    The common passion flower (Passiflora caerulea) or blue passionflower is certainly a joy to behold with its intricate layers of striking form and colours. Parts that are strong and bold whilst others are delicate and precarious. They grow on a climbing vine that can quickly cover anything that provides support. With all that pollen going on, they attract a wide range of pollinators such as the bees and hummingbirds and helping to keep a health ecosystem.

    These plants are native to South America but have been widely cultivated to grow around the world and are hardy in all but the coldest parts of the Northern Hemisphere. They prefer a sunny spot especially if you want to ripen the fruit. The fruit although edible is not very palatable unless fully ripened.

    passiflora caerulea - common passion flower

  • Six-spot Burnet – Standout Moth

    The six-spot burnet moth (Zygaena filipendulae) has been a welcome sight, as seen here on a Scabious in the grass meadow. This moth is common throughout Europe away from the extremes and is busy during the daytime feeding and mating. It plays a crucial role in the pollination of plants that has a wider impact on the production of food.

    Its striking appearance of metallic green-blue wings, and six vivid red spot, serves as a warning to predators of its toxicity. It stores cyanogenic compounds as a defence, that it has taken from its host plants.

    Their presence in numbers is a sign of a health ecosystem, as long as they are in balance and not overwhelming the system. A useful insect to study as they are easy to spot and active in the daytime. They also typify the lifecycle that highlights the basic biological concepts such as metamorphosis, plant-insect interactions, and chemical defense mechanisms

    zygaena filipendulae - six-spot burnet moth

  • Persian Cornflower – Vibrant Colour & Stunning Form

    The Persian Cornflower in its cultivated form has a striking colour and a beautiful shape. Vivid pink and opens very similar to a thistle shape. Some have a white or cream centre, but in this particular cultivar the centre carries the main colour.

    Persian Cornflower not your average Daisy

    As part of the Asteraceae family, one of the largest, it resembles so many other members. However, this is likely best classified as a Psephellus dealbatus and not Centaurea. The plant is native from Turkey and up through the Caucasus but introduced to much of Northern Europe.

    This plant loves full sun in nutrient-poor but well-drained soil. This makes the plant ideal for a cross between border, cottage garden or pseudo mediterranean  garden that is not too hot or dry. Definitely more impressive than the common cornflower.

    Psephellus dealbatus - Persian Cornflower
  • Cosmos – Garden Stars That Shine

    The Daisy family, Asteraceae, is the second biggest and provides some of the best loved flowing plants we have. Cosmos are well ordered flowers with fine featherlike leaves that stand tall. The name Cosmos comes from the Greek for ‘ordered world’.

    They are well ordered and keep their form, even when massed together, giving a super colourful display in any border. Colours range from chocolate, through orange, magenta, pink and white. All with a yellow centre with radial petals, like little solar systems or galaxies in perfect synchronisation. A very apt name, Cosmos.

    Cosmos - multi-coloured