Strelitzia Reginae AKA Bird of Paradise

 

Strelitzia reginae (aka bird of paradise)

     Strelitzia reginae (aka bird of paradise) is one of five Strelitzia species native to the subtropical coastal areas of South Africa.  The flowers typically bloom from Late fall through late spring.  This is a  hardy, drought-tolerant plant that grows well in Southern California.  This plant is growing in a Santa Barbara city park.

Strelitzia reginae (aka bird of paradise)

     Birds seek out the nectar, which is found in the “nectary” at the base of the flower where two petals join together. A bird hops onto the smaller, lower petal, and the bird’s weight exposes the anthers, which brush pollen on the bird’s feet and chest. When the bird flies to another flower, it lands on the prominent and sticky stigma and deposits pollen, before hopping in for another nectar treat.

Strelitzia reginae (aka bird of paradise)

     Another interesting fact is that Strelitzia produce no wind-borne pollen, and have an OPALS allergy scale rating of 1.  That means there is a very low risk of causing allergic reaction.

Plumeria Seed Pod Grows!

 

Plumeria Seed Pod

     The plumeria seed pods continue to grow.  The one pictured above is about 16 inches from tip to tip.  It's still another six months before the seeds will start being released.  Below is a picture of this pod 11 weeks earlier, when I first noticed it.

Plumeria seed Pod

     The second seed pod continues to grow even though the pods didn't separate and are connected along the length of the pods.  It's not readily accessible to measure, so I'm going to guess the pods are about 6 inches in length.

Plumeria Seed Pod

Below is the "before picture" taken about 11 weeks ago.

Plumeria Seed Pod

     Both pods are growing on the same variety of plumeria, but on two different plants.  I like how the colors shift on the blooms from pink to white and that the blooms are fragrant.  Below is a cluster of blooms from this variety.

Plumeria

Blooming Aloes in Santa Barbara

 

Aloe arborescens AKA Torch Aloe

    One thing I enjoy seeing this time of year are the Aloes blooming all over Santa Barbara.  This is a very large Aloe arborescens (AKA Torch Aloe) is growing in Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden.  I see this aloe growing all over town.

Bloom of Aloe arborescens AKA Torch Aloe

Aloe arborescens AKA Torch Aloe

Aloe arborescens AKA Torch Aloe

Aloe arborescens AKA Torch Aloe

Aloe arborescens AKA Torch Aloe

Aloe arborescens AKA Torch Aloe

This Aloe arborescens between the road and the bike path is just beginning to bloom.

     The hummingbirds enjoy the aloe blooms too.  You can see one in the picture above at the tip of the arrow.  Then a close-up picture below.

Yellow Aloe arborescans 'Lutea'

Bloom of Yellow Aloe arborescans 'Lutea'

Aloe Aloiampelos ciliaris

     Aloe Aloiampelos ciliaris is a climbing aloe and here you can see it climbing up a light pole on Cabrillo Boulevard.

Bloom of Aloe Aloiampelos ciliaris

     Driving around town I see other types of amazing aloes in bloom, and here are just a few.

I think this tree aloe is pretty cool!

     I see a lot of other interesting aloes around town that are not blooming right now.  However, they will be blooming later in the new year and I'll be keeping an eye out for those!

Talk about a tight squeeze!

 

Yellow Aloe arborescans 'Lutea', AKA Yellow Torch Aloe

     I was taking pictures of this yellow Aloe arborescans 'Lutea', AKA Yellow Torch Aloe, when I noticed some bees flying around it.  

Yellow Aloe arborescans 'Lutea', AKA Yellow Torch Aloe

In the picture above, yellow arrows are pointing to the bees.

A bee in the bloom of a Yellow Torch Aloe

The bees were just small enough to squeeze into the tubular shaped flowers to get to the pollen and nectar.

A bee in the bloom of a Yellow Torch Aloe

A Quick Walk Through Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden

Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden

    I went for a quick walk through the Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden.  It's a great little garden in Santa Barbara that fills one square block.  When I worked near downtown Santa Barbara, I would eat my sack lunch in this garden.

Hibiscus

Hibiscus

Paper white narcissus

Erythrina bidwillii AKA Bidwill's Coral Bean 

Iris

Asparagus densiflorus 'Myersii' AKA Asparagus Fern 

Red fruit on a Asparagus densiflorus 'Myersii' AKA asparagus fern 

     The fruit on the Asparagus densiflorus 'Myersii' AKA asparagus fern look festive for the holiday season!

Some Of My Favorite Cactus!

      I like cactus and different ones for different reasons!  Here are a few from my collection.

Gymnocalycium horstii 

     I like the smooth surface of this Gymnocalycium horstii and how it contrasts with the large spines!  This plant is about five inches in diameter.

Gymnocalycium Pflanzii v.marquezii

     This Gymnocalycium Pflanzii v.marquezii has a very rough texture, like fine sandpaper.  This plant is also about five inches in diameter.

Mammillaria elongata Copper King

     This Mammillaria elongata(AKA Copper King), in a six inch pot has been easy to grow.  I've had over five years and it has doubled the number of finger-like stems.  Below is a close-up photo showing the coppery spines.  They grow radial fashion and are less likely to poke you!

Mammillaria elongata AKA Copper King

Mammillaria plumosa AKA Feather Cactus 

     The spines on this mammillaria plumosa (AKA Feather Cactus) also has spines that grow in a radial pattern.  The spines are very soft and hence the name Feather Cactus.  Below is a close-up of the feather like spines ad blooms.

mammillaria plumosa AKA Feather Cactus 

Mammillaria gracilis fragilis AKA Thimble Cactus 

     I've had this Mammillaria gracilis fragilis AKA Thimble Cactus for over ten years.  It was a small scraggly plant on the freebie table at a plant show.  I thought it was interesting because of the cylindrical shape of the stems and combination of small radial spines and bigger outward pointing spines.  The cylindrical or thimble shaped stems easily breakoff and root into a new plant.  This is the type of plant I avoid bumping into as you can see in this close-up photo!

Mammillaria gracilis fragilis AKA Thimble Cactus

 

Matucan madisoniorum 

     Here is another cactus that I have had for a very long time, Matucan madisoniorum.  This stem is now ten inches tall with a rough surface and it produces a few long spines.  I think the orange-red flowers "shoot out" from the top like fanfare trumpets!