Unusual flowers - Gymea Lily by Frances

Image copyright 2013 Frances Brown

Gymea Lily (Doryanthes excelsa) is a special Australian wildflower that only occurs naturally in the coastal region near Sydney. 

It has huge flower clusters.  This cluster was over half a metre in length.  Usually the clusters are on stems 3 - 5 metres high (and difficult to photograph) however, this one was leaning over due to the weight of the flowers, so I could get up close.  Each individual flower is about 10cm across when it opens. The excellent flowering is probably due to all the rain we had in Sydney a month or two ago.

Unusual flowers - Bromeliad by Georgie

Image copyright Georgie Brown 2013

This week features unusual flowers. This gorgeous multi coloured bromeliad was photographed in Perth by Georgie.  

Spring blossom - Peach blossom by Frances

Image copyright 2013 Frances Brown

First week of Spring - Hot Pink Freesias

 Image copyright 2013 Frances Brown

Spotted in a neighbour's garden, this "massing" freesia hybrid has multiple flowers and a wonderfully vibrant hot pink colour - but not much perfume.

First week of Spring - Purple and Gold

Image copyright 2013 Frances Brown

Purple and gold - a great combination.

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.

Colourful Flowers by Romaine

Image copyright 2013 Romaine Moss

Poppy, buttercups, daisies, Rosemary and wild garlic
Photo taken in Tuscany, Italy