Flower Garden

 Bird of Paradise Flower

Scientific Classification

Scientific Name  - Strelitzia reginae

Domain               - Eukaryota

Kingdom             - Plantae

Phylum                - Magnoliophyta

Class                    - Liliopsida

Order                   - Zingiberales

Family                 - Strelitziaceae

Genus                  - Strelitzia

Species               - S.reginae

Strelitzia reginae, commonly known as the crane flower, bird of paradise, or isigude in Nguni, is a species of flowering plant indigenous to South Africa. An evergreen perennial, it is widely cultivated for its dramatic flowers. In temperate areas it is a popular houseplant. One of the only flowers actually pollinated by birds, the Strelitzia is named " Bird of Paradise " because its blossoms, when fully opened, resemble the wings of a bird in flight.

 Strelitzia reginae is native to the southern and eastern parts of the Cape Province and northern Natal in South Africa. The plant grow up to 4-6 fit, high 120-180cm, and 3-4 fit. wide 90-120cm. making it a dramatic addition to any garden of landscape. A Bird of Paradise will grow around 9 inches every year. We used to think that they lived up to 70 years, but better research tells us their life expectancy is closer to 20-30.

The Bird of paradise plant has stunning flowers. It is an ideal houseplant because it is low-maintenance and is considered minimally toxic to humans. A small, unintentional ingestion by a child can result in gastrointestinal effects including vomiting and diarrhea. 

The Strelitzia reginae has been used to treat inflamed glands and sexually transmitted diseases in some Kwazuly-Natal  cultures. In addition those African cultures in the Cape are known to put the seeds into milk to accelerate the souring process. The flowers attract bees, which are important members of any garden.

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 Daffodil

Scientific Classification

Scientific Name  - Narcissus geranium

Domain                - Eukaryota

Kingdom              - Plantae

Phylum                - Magnoliophyta

Class                     - Liliopsida

Order                    - Asparagalos

Family                  - Amaryllidaceae

Genus                   - Narcissus

Species                 - N.geranium

Also known as the daffodil, this flower is the impetus for the origin of the term narcissism. Per Geek mythology, Narcissus was a young hunter who was well known to be very attractive. Narcissus flowers are also seen to represent creativity, inspiration, awareness and inner reflection, forgiveness and vitality. They multiply quickly and return to bloom again each spring, year after year. If you give a bunch of narcissi to a loved one it means " they're the only one " and is said to ensure happiness.

The Narcissus flower is a perennial in the daffodil family. It is native to Europe and Asia, although it is now found throughout most of the world. Daffodils grows easily in most regions of North America, except in the hottest, wettest areas, such as South Florida. The plant grows from bulbs and can grow up to 15 feet high. The flowers are bell-shapped and can be white, yellow, orange, or red. Once the daffodil flower blooms it can be last for several weeks. Daffodils are true bulbs and like all true bulbs are perennial, with a life span of three to five years, during which time they self-propagate.

A decoction of the dried flowers acts as an emetic, and has been considered useful for relieving the congestive bronchial catarrh of children, and also useful for epidemic dysentery, In France, Narcissus flowers have been used as an antispasmodic.

All parts of the daffodil contain a toxic chemical, lycorine. The parts of the plant that contains the highest concentration of lycorine is the bulb. However, eating any part of the plant can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. These symptoms usually last about 3 hours.

They provide nectar for early season pollinators, which in turn can improve the pollination of fruit trees for better fruit set, if they flower at the same time. That is one reason why daffodils are often planted in fruit tree guilds. 

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Victoria amazonica

Scientific  classification

Scientific Name  -  Victoria amazonica

Domain                - Eukaryota

Kingdom              - Plantae

Phylum                - Magnoliophyta

Class                     - Magnoliopsida

Order                    - Nymphaeales

Family                  - Nymphaeaceae

Genus                   - Victoria

Species                - V.amazonica

Victoria amazonica also called Victoria regia is a species of flowering plant, the second largest of the water lily family Nymophaeaceae. Victoria amazonica, commonly called Amazon water lily, royal water lily, giant water lily or Amazon water platter, is native to Quiet shallow waters in tropical South America, including, as the common name suggests, the backwaters of the Amazon River. The giant waterlily in the world, Victoria amazonica, is an impressive tender aquatic perennial boasting huge, round, yellow-green leaves, up to 4 - 6ft across ( 120 - 180cm ). They float on the water's surface on a long submerged stalk, 23 - 26ft ( 7 - 8cm ). The third adaption of this giant waterlily is that the flower only lives for three days, it traps the beetles that come to pollinate the flower inside it's core and then releases all it's pollen on these beetles.

Giant waterlilies are a popular ornamental plant known for their massive circular leaves. Water lily seeds have been used as a food source in Central America and were once referred to as " water corn " in Paraguay  due to their large seeds, which were used to make flour.

Giant water lilies are poisonous and contain as alkaloid called nupharin in almost all of their parts, with the exception of the seeds and in some species, the tubers.

Victoria amazonica, their abundance provides important benefits to the ecosystem. They create food and shelter for both aquatic and non-aquatic wildlife. Lily pads provide important food source for beaver, certain species of beetles, and pollinators, as well as providing shelter for fish. 

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 Bleeding Heart

Scientific Classification

Scientific Name -  Lamprocapnos spectabilis

Domain               - Eukaryota

Kingdom             - Plantae

Phylum               - Magnoliophyta

Class                    - Magnoliopsida

Order                  - Ranunculales

Family                - Papaveraceae

Genus                 - Lamprocapnos

Species               - L.spectabilis

Lamprocapnos spectabilis, bleeding heart, fallopian buds or Asian bleeding heart, is a species of flowering plant belonging to  the fumitory subfamily of the oppy family. Bleeding heart is valued in gardens and in floristry for it's heart shaped pink and white flowers, born in spring. The common name comes from the flowers which look like a drop of red blood exuding from the heart shaped calyx.

Common bleeding heart is native to Siberia, China and Northern Japan, and introduced in North America. In New England it has been collected in the wild only in marine, but it is a common main story of spring gardens throughout the region. They are typically  found in moist grasslands or shady forests. This herbaceous plant forms loose, bushy clumps up to 3 feet tall and 4 feet wide from brittle, fleshy roots. It blooms on arching stems for 6 - 8 weeks in mid to late spring, and looks heavenly planted among the more traditional pink variety. They have a long lifespan : up to 25 years in captivity and 15 years in the wild. They are short tailed, with longlegs, and red feet.

Bleeding heart plants contain isoquinoline alkaloids that are toxic to humans and animals. Serious cases of poisoning are common in dogs and horses, but much less common is humans. The toxins in bleeding heart can cause liver damage and seizures in humans when ingested in large quantities.

A tincture made from Pacific bleeding heart can ease the pain of sprains or bruises. It can also calm the nervous system, which can help alleviate anxiety or insomnia. The Skagit people used Pacific bleeding heart as a toothache and hair growth remedy.

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 Himalayan Blue Poppy

Scientific Classification

Scientific Name -  Meconopsis betonicifolia

Domain               - Eukaryota

Kingdom             - Plantae

Phylum               - Trcheophyta

Class                    - Angiosperms

Order                   - Ranunculales

Genus                  - Meconopsis

Species                - M.detonocifolia

Meconopsis betonicifolia, the Himalayan Blue Poppy, is a species of flowering plant in the family Papaveraceae. It was first formally named for western science in 1912 by the British officer Lt.Col.Frederick Marshman Bailway. The  Himalayan Blue Poppy is the national flower of Bhutan. The poppy symbolizes potential, possibilities, psychic skills and expresses to the receiver that " you make my dreams come true. " 

The  Himalayan Blue Poppy is found in the alpine region across the country and Bhutan has 13 types of blue poppy of which one is endemic to Bhutan. The  Himalayan Blue Poppy native to Tibet where summers are cool and moist. It requires similar conditions in the U.S. and is a challenging plant to grow due to the required growing conditions. It is grown along the Pacific coast typically north of the Bay Area, and along the eastern coast in Northern New England. The  Himalayan Blue Poppy has sky blue colored petals, although the anthocyanidin nucleus of the petal pigment is cyanidin.  Himalayan Blue Poppy looks just like you might expect, like a poppy but in a striking shade of cool blue. These perennials grow tall, 3 to 5 feet ( 1-1.5m ) in height and have hairy leaves like other types of poppies. The blooms are large and deep blue to purple in color.

 Himalayan Blue Poppy is edible and is a non-poisoned plant. It doesn't produce opium, like other poppy plants, nor does it produce any narcotic effect on our bodies. The roots of this plant are harmful to our bodies.

Blue Poppy is a fascinating flower apart from  it's attractive look, it is of great medicinal value. It's seeds are used as skin moisturizer. It helps in eradicating scare marks. It enhances the growth of skin cells and hence reduces the process of aging. Himalayan Blue Poppy seeds are edible blue-gray colored seeds of the poppy flower which is popular throughout European cookery. Perfect to add flavour to your home bread baking and as an ingredient in a range of dishes. 

However, the magnificent  Himalayan Blue Poppy remains quite rare in the world. Regardless of this fact, though, it does not yet appear on the IUCN Red List of Threatened species. But, despites the surprising omission, many experts consider the species to be in danger of potential extinction.  

Himalayan Blue Poppy

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