Last of the Winter blues - Pincushion Flower (Scabiosa lucida) by Liz

Image copyright 2013 Liz Orr

Scabiosa lucida is also known as Pincushion flower or Shining scabious.  I think Pincushion flower is by far the prettiest name! Other varieties of Pincushion flower may be white, pink, lavender or purple.

"True blue" - Australian Wildflower Royal bluebell

The Royal bluebell (Wahlenbergia gloriosa) is an Australian wildflower and the emblem of the Australian Capital Territory. It grows in Alpine areas with a high rainfall.
Photo courtesy sportymummy.blogspot.com

"True blue" is also an Australian expression meaning reliable, trustworthy, loyal or genuine.

Winter blues - Gentiana septimfida by Liz

Image copyright 2013 Liz Orr

Gentiana septemfida, also known as Crested gentian,  has clusters of mid-blue trumpet-shaped flowers, about 4 cm in length in late summer. Photographed in the Scottish summer by Liz.

Winter blues - Clematis Royal Blue by Liz

Image copyright 2013 Liz Orr

Clematis are members of the same family as buttercups -the Ranunculaceae family.

Winter blues - Echinops ritro "Veitch's blue" by Liz

Image copyright 2013 Liz Orr

Small globe thistle or Echinos ritro "Veitch's blue" is a variety of thistle with globules of blue flowers on white stems. Interestingly they are in the same plant family (Asteraceae) as daisies. 

Winter Blues - Harebell (Scottish bluebell) by Liz

Image copyright 2013 Liz Orr

It's all blue flowers this week to celebrate the last week of Winter (in Sydney) and the end of "the Winter blues". 

Meanwhile, in Scotland they are enjoying the last weeks of Summer. This beautiful Scottish wildflower - known as bluebell in Scotland (Campanula rotundifolia) or harebell was photographed by Liz. These flowers are popular with the bumble bees and provide them with an important source of nectar in Autumn.

Pink Protea by Georgie

Image copyright 2013 Georgie Brown

Another gorgeous image of a protea, most likely a Protea obtusifolia (also known as Limestone sugarbush),  captured by Georgie in Perth, Western Australia

Protea by Frances

Image copyright 2013 Frances Brown

Proteas are native to southern Africa and belong to the same plant family (Proteaceae) as the Australian banksias, grevilleas and waratahs. This protea has spectacular flowers with satiny pink bracts tipped with soft down. 

Bird of Paradise flower (Strelitzia reginae) by Janet

These bird-like flowers are named after the Birds of Paradise found in the region of Papua New Guinea and Northern Australia.  

Bird of Paradise plants (Strelitzia) are actually related to bananas, being in the same plant family (Musaceae) and have similar leaves. The flowers are orange with a blue tongue, and the reddish-green part is a bract (or modified leaf). 

Columbine Nora Barlow (Aquilegia) by Liz

Image copyright 2013 Liz Orr

Columbine "Nora Barlow" or (Aquilegia) have beautiful double crimson flowers edged in green.

Aquilegia by Liz

Image copyright 2013 Liz Orr

Aquilegia have beautiful flowers, and may be single, double or spineless varieties. This photo was taken in Scotland by Liz.

Echeveria by Janet

Image copyright 2013 Janet Denne

This Echeveria succulent with its star shaped foliage and star shaped flowers was photographed by Janet. This particular Echeveria has a long history - it has moved house several times with Janet and was originally owned by her grandmother.

Wisteria sinensis (Chinese Wisteria) by Romaine

Image copyright 2013 Romaine Moss

Chinese wisteria, a climbing plant, usually flowers in Sydney during September and October.  I'm looking forward to seeing these perfumed lavender blue clusters of flowers making their appearance next month! Other varieties of wisteria have white, pale pink, lilac, rosy mauve or violet flowers.

Bearded Iris (Iris xiphium) by Georgie

Image copyright 2013 Georgie Brown

Also known as Dutch irises, these hybrid plants were originally developed from the Spanish Iris. The brightly coloured flowers grow from bulbs and appear in late Winter and early Spring. Photo taken in Perth, Western Australia by Georgie.

Hippeastrum by Lynda

Image copyright Lynda Shrimpton 2013

Hippeastrums grow from bulbs and are big funnel shaped flowers about 20cm across. In Sydney they usually appear about October. 

Lantana by Georgie

Image Copyright 2013 Georgie Brown

Vibrantly coloured Lantana flowers, photographed in Perth, Western Australia. The colour orange is associated with festivity, happiness optimism, and energy. 

Although these flowers are pretty in gardens,  Lantana is often an invasive plant that spreads through bushland displacing native groundcover.

Protea obtusifolia by Georgie

Image copyright 2013 Georgie Brown

Protea obtusifolia (or Limestone sugarbush) is named because the leaves are obtuse shaped - ie rounded rather than pointed.

Lithodora by Liz

Image copyright 2013 Liz Orr

It's slightly unusual to see truly blue flowers in nature. Lithodora are low growing shrubs with 5 lobed flowers in Summer, in various shades of blue or white. "Lith" means rock, so my guess is that these are popular rockery plants. Photo taken in Scotland by Liz.

Daffodil by Frances

I saw this daffodil on my walk yesterday morning.

Jonquils by Georgie

Image copyright Georgie Brown 2013

I always think jonquils are cute because they look like mini daffodils. Photo taken by Georgie in Perth, Western Australia

Sempervivium (Houseleek) by Liz

Image copyright 2013 Liz Orr

Sempervivium are succulents, also known as Houseleeks because they were often grown on roof tops in the hope of preventing lightning strikes.

Scarlet Camellias by Georgie

Image copyright 2013 Georgie Brown

These unusually shaped camellias were photographed by Georgie in the grounds of the University of Sydney.

Water Lily by Julia

Image copyright 2013 Julia Brown

Photographed by Julia at Eden Gardens in Sydney