Sunday, July 12, 2009

Today's Flowers



It’s so hard to find someone who doesn’t like flowers. Flowers represent all our best feelings.
To see other flowers from around the world, visit the virtual flower shop at Today’s Flowers, created by Luiz Santilli, Jr.




This is what is currently blooming in our backyard in Musashi's Garden. We have loads of beautiful Ixora blooms in gold and red. Ixora are native to India and Sri Lanka. Ixora is too tender to grow outside of the tropics and subtropics. It prefers a warm, humid climate with temperatures rarely dipping below 50F. They need protection during the winter months in the Houston area.



A fairly small, bushy shrub, usually only 5-10ft tall. There are dwarf varieties that are much smaller. Ixora will flower when only a few inches high. It is commonly used a hedge or small garden plant. They prefer to grow in full sun. Plants have only moderate drought tolerance. We have drought conditions here and water every day.



The plant is mainly grown as an ornamental, but its flowers also have some medicinal uses.
I hope you enjoyed seeing what is blooming in Musashi's Garden.



We are what we think.
All that we are arises with our thoughts.
With our thoughts, we make our world.

~ Buddhist Saying

Joy to You!


21 comments:

i beati said...

grand ixora colors !1Sandy

Carletta said...

I love that yellow!
It looks like a beautiful plant. My snowy winters means I won't have any I guess. :)
Lovely shots.

My post is here: Carletta’s Captures.

Maria-Thérèse ~ www.afiori.com said...

Wow! Looks a bit like a lilac, but yellow?

Ebie said...

Love the orange one. I grew up in the tropics, and we call this flower SUNTAN.

My post is here:
http://themain-ingredient.info/2009/07/11/todays-flowers-bougainvilleas/

Arija said...

Beautiful flowers and beautiful shots too.

VALKYRIEN said...

What an absolutely gorgeous flower! And beautiful shots too!
Have a nice Sunday!

SquirrelQueen said...

Very beautiful flowers, I have never heard of the Ixora. Both colors are so pretty.
Have a wonderful day,
SQ

Carole said...

That is so pretty! Love the vibrant colors.

DeniseinVA said...

Beautiful flowers and photos. Thank you for sharing them.

Kim Mailhot said...

Thanks for sharing your blooms and blessing with us ! ;)

Bradley Hsi said...

They looks so nice. We have many in Taiwan as ornamental plant by the road. Especially on the sunny side, they flower very well. Thanks for sharing.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi There, We're home after a wonderful weekend in the gorgeous North Carolina mountains. I'll post in the morning.

Beautiful flowers, Snap.

Hope you had a great weekend.
Hugs,
Betsy

Anonymous said...

Wonderful pictures.
Thank you for sharing!!
I have admired the ixora flowers during our vacation in Samana.

Barb said...

I have never seen or heard of Ixora. Obviously, I couldn't grow it here in the Rocky Mts, but I enjoyed seeing yours.

Arija said...

Thank you for your comment on my Magnolias, I have added a paragraph clarifying the misconception of 'Tupip Trees', something so often occuring when local common names are used. This is why I try whenever possible, to feature the botanical name.

Janet said...

Not only have I never seen Ixora, I've never even heard of it. But it's a beautiful flower. Does it have a scent?

jabblog said...

Lovely blooms. They look as though they flower for a long time, each tiny floret ripening in turn. So good to see what's growing around the world.

Unknown said...

We call them here as santan, your shot of the yellow ones are beautiful.

Carver said...

Those are beautiful flowers and so well photographed.

Rosa said...

Those colors are gorgeous!!!!

Pretty Things said...

Mmmm.... I can smell them from here!