January Color

 

Alstroemeria

Here are a few pictures of some January color in the garden.

Billbergia, Bromeliad

Billbergia, Bromeliad

Lily

Begonia Bloom and Rain Drops

Begonia, Bromeliad, Lilly and Coleus

Bromeliad

Drosera coccicaulis 

Hibiscus

Begonia blooms

Wisteria Beginning to Bloom

Raindrops on Alstroemeria

Tomato in January

I even found this small tomato hiding in the garden!

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