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.