Saturday, February 26, 2011

TODAY'S FLOWERS ~ Naked Ladies


Thank you Luiz for featuring my Ammaryllis belladonna on
this week's TODAY'S FLOWERS.

They come in two tones of pink and this lovely creamy white,
that is what the book says but I have a shorter paler variety
with pointier petals as well, blooming in my mountain garden.

Belladonnas are interesting weather prophets as well, they
pop up out of the dry ground exactly two weeks before the first
autumn rain.

When you pick or handle them, remember to wash your hands
afterwards as these beauties are poisonous. Their toxicity is
the reason they spread so readily on paddocks and roadsides as
grazing animals have a sixth sense and leave the alone.

These flowers are native to the West Cape of Africa where our
early settlers stopped to replenish water and fresh food for
themselves and fodder for their animals for the long and
arduous voyage by sailing ship to the new colonies in Australia.


They stretch their flower heads to the sun, naked and leafless,



with a multitude of buds waiting to open to this perfect showing


with a perfume that is heady and delightful. I count at least
eighteen flowers and buds on this single stem.


Here is the paler pink version


and the glory of a stand of deep pink ones


and to finish off, just a little more eye candy.



All these were photographed this afternoon in my garden.

Thank you Luiz for your continued efforts in keeping this meme alive.
All photos enlarge and the Logo leads to fields and fields of flowers.

53 comments:

  1. These are lovely blooms and colors. Beautiful photos.

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  2. Those are really beautiful photos. Amazing blooms!
    Take care
    Marinela x

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  3. These are glorious flowers, a sight to gladden the heart.

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  4. These are glorious flowers, a sight to gladden the heart.

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  5. Oooooh! I did not know these were called naked ladies. There were so many of these in the fields when I was growing up. I used to pick them and just play with them. Sorry, what's a little girl to do but pick flowers from the fields? How are you today, sweet friend? It's the weekend and I am on call. Tsup!

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  6. Ces,

    God made flowers to grow in field so that children could play with them, that is why He/She made glorious mud too.

    TSUP

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  7. It it's coming to your autumn already, it must almost be spring. Yippee!!!

    Those flowers are so beautiful. I'm glad you've had a variety of colorful blooms this year. Be well my friend.

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  8. Oh Wow.These are gorgeous.I also did a double take on the new header.I love that picture.
    Blessings,Ruth

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  9. Your flowers always take my breath away, Arija! And what an incredible breath of spring they have brought into my gray day! And your header rose is magnificent!! What a terrific way to begin my day! Enjoy the moment -- each and every moment, my friend!

    Sylvia

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  10. Wow, two weeks before the rain. How do they know?! Nature is a mystery. I shall not question. These are beautiful. The last photo, particularly, with the close up blooms made me catch my breath!

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  11. What a delightful array of flowers. They are all very beautiful.

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  12. Oh, how beautiful they are. No leaves just the flowers, that's why they are called naked ladies? That big pink bouquet is amazing.

    Thanks for stopping by, you are welcome to post them on Macro Flowers Saturday too.

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  13. oh thank you for sharing your garden blooms, I needed to see them.. It is hard to take the 4 ft. snow drifts outside my window...

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  14. Neat, I've never seen any but the pink ones. Yours also seem much heartier than our local Ladies. Here is the link to mine. http://beyondmygarden.blogspot.com/2010/08/naked-ladies.html
    nellie

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  15. we call them naked ladies too.

    Your buds were amazing.

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  16. Oh my Arija, all are so beautiful and I can only imagine the delightful fragrances of these beauties. Your banner is awesomeness. Have a blessed week~

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  17. Those flowers gladden the heart. Do they need snow to hibernate? I have not seen them in these parts.

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  18. Your rose in your Header is just an amzing picture - as are all your photographs. I have a belladonna in my garden, but it has masses of strappy leaves first, before it flower (in Autumn). Thanks for sharing your beautiful moon pix too - I've had a most rewarding visit to your blog!

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  19. I LOVE the colours! And they're very pretty too! I've only seen them on blogs.

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  20. Very nice flowers. I hardly see these anymore.

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  21. i love them and i love the story that goes with it! they look like my Star of Bethlehem, here in the USA

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  22. What a beauty in cluster! Love the colors and the way you presented them.

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  23. I only became familiar with these lovely ladies last summer. I'm hoping to have some myself this summer. :)
    Lovely images and the that last shot is my favorite - beautiful!

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  24. So beautiful Arija...today is all gray sky and snow here...your colorful flowers are a delight to behold.

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  25. All are gorgeous and delightful!
    Happy new week Arija.

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  26. Naked and leafless...still they are stunning Arija!
    Tyra

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  27. Thanks so much for these photos. I have never seen white ones!! I left this comment on the Today's Flowers site (and that photo is gorgeous!):

    These are a kind of amaryllis, called Pink Lady or Naked Lady. The "naked" part comes not from their color, but from the fact that the leaves show in the very early spring, die back, and then the flower stalks poke up with no leaves, usually in August. The tops of the flower stalks are flat and shaped like a blade and emerge from even very dry and hard ground. In Northern California they naturalize and can be seen in great masses on sunny banks by the roadside. And to top it all off, they are intensely fragrant! Can you tell that these are some of my favorite flowers?

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  28. the pink ones are beautiful, but the first white one went straight to my heart. Just gorgeous!

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  29. Wow, love the Ammaryllis belladonna pictures and plants. I could try to plant them in summer my garden.
    Let's wait nad see..
    LG Gisela.

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  30. Gorgeous blooms, I wish I could smell the scent of these beauties.

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  31. Very beautiful flowers, fine pictures.

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  32. What a joy for me to view these today … to fuel my dreams of springtime … as I patiently will the snow to melt!

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  33. These are beautiful. My first exposure! Thanks for sharing.

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  34. lotusleaf said...
    What a spectacular bunch of flowers! What is its name?

    Sunday, 27 February, 2011

    Indrani said...
    Love the light captured.

    Sunday, 27 February, 2011

    kanak7 said...
    So beautifully captured!!! Love that colour!

    Sunday, 27 February, 2011

    Digital Flower Pictures said...
    Really great colors.

    Sunday, 27 February, 2011

    NatureFootstep said...
    those flowers are wonderful. So much spring about them. Love it. :)

    Sunday, 27 February, 2011

    lina@women's perspectives said...
    Love its color and shape :)

    Sunday, 27 February, 2011

    Carver said...
    I love the way the mix of pink and white on the blossoms with a touch of yellow. Very beautiful!

    Sunday, 27 February, 2011

    Laerte Pupo said...
    Beautiful flowers.
    It seems to be a kind of lily.
    Congratulations for participating.

    Sunday, 27 February, 2011

    Cheryl Ann said...
    What gorgeous flowers! WOW!

    Sunday, 27 February, 2011

    AL said...
    OH SO NICE! Lovely shade of pink!

    Sunday, 27 February, 2011

    Ever Green Tree said...
    Pretty in Pink!

    Sunday, 27 February, 2011

    jabblog said...
    These are such beautiful flowers - wonderful form and colour.

    Sunday, 27 February, 2011

    Modern Mom said...
    These are lovely.

    Sunday, 27 February, 2011

    Sara Chapman in Seattle, USA said...
    These are a kind of amaryllis, called Pink Lady or Naked Lady. The "naked" part comes not from their color, but from the fact that the leaves show in the very early spring, die back, and then the flower stalks poke up with no leaves, usually in August. The tops of the flower stalks are flat and shaped like a blade and emerge from even very dry and hard ground. In Northern California they naturalize and can be seen in great masses on sunny banks by the roadside. And to top it all off, they are intensely fragrant! Can you tell that these are some of my favorite flowers?

    Sunday, 27 February, 2011

    Anki said...
    Beautiful flowers.

    Sunday, 27 February, 2011

    Míriam Luiza said...
    Estas flores são lindas e dixam meu mundo mais cor de rosa! Linda foto!

    Sunday, 27 February, 2011

    Autumn Belle said...
    Very unusual colours in these gorgeous beauties.

    Sunday, 27 February, 2011

    Iowa Gardening Woman said...
    Beautiful flowers, they looks some what like my surprise lilies.

    Sunday, 27 February, 2011

    Leave your comment

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  35. Well, I learned something today--that my "Naked Ladies" are poisonous! They certainly are pretty, though. You have some beautiful, multi-blossomed ones in your garden.

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  36. I saw the flowers on this post as well as the featured one on the home page but I'm glad I came back because I don't think you'd given the information about the featured flowers at the time that I visited here earlier. Great information. I learn so much about flowers and plants on your blog.

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  37. Beautiful photography and flowers!

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  38. Oi!

    Realmente são flores bem bonitas, como as que você mostrou no FLORES DE HOJE. Obrigada por sua visita. Só estou visitando seu blog agora, pois domingo é super corrido pra mim, por causa dos trabalhos da igreja. Cheguei a pouco, e só vou comentar os outros blogs amanhã. Fiquei surpresa como o clima aí se parece com o daqui do Brasil, pois estamos nos aproximando do outono. Daqui três semanas nossas folhas começarão a cair. Gosto desta interação entre climas e plantas. Abraços!

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  39. Oh my, these are spectacular Arija! The only Amaryllis I have seen are the ones we buy here, and grow in the house.These are far more beautiful!
    What an awesome header too. Such fabulous colors you have in your garden.
    Have a restful week.{HUGS}
    B.

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  40. Isn't that something! We call them naked ladies here also! Or surprise lilies. The only one I can grow in my zone 4 garden is the pink one!

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  41. Arija, thanks for checking out my painted ladies. We also call them resurrection lilies. Thanks especially for all the information. It seems like they take about 3 years to produce flowers after transplanting. I move a few every year, but they are all over the garden so there are always plenty blooming. Yes, I think we would have trouble with customs.
    nellie

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  42. Very, very beautiful flowers. I had not before seen these plants; they are lovely. I have a plant in my garden that also is called "Naked Ladies" which puts up greenery in the Spring, dies out in summer and re-erupts and flowers in autumn, but they are Lycoris Squagimira, not Belladonnas, and they have no fragrance.

    Thanks for dropping by my post.:)

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  43. Beautiful flowers but they always seem a bit strange as there are no leaves when they bloom.

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  44. Beautiful flowers. Very lovely contrasting colors.

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  45. These are awesome! Loving all the photos and interesting info too. Naked ladies - ha!

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  46. oh my, they are gorgeous. I have only known them in pink, they are stunning in their other color as well. I had no idea they were poisonous either, so good to know. Amongst my snowy day they are a beautiful sight to behold!

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  47. Oh wow! Thank you for sharing those lovely flower photos I really do love it!

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  48. They look so similar to the Rain Lilies / Zephyr lilies we have here in India. Didn't know they were called naked ladies n that they are toxic. My mom loves them in all shades of white, pink n yellow n we have them growing as a bordering edge ard the garden. I love them too. Lovely post n beautifully captured.

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  49. Wow, they all are gorgeous. They have beauty and poison :)

    Thanks for dropping by

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  50. Beautiful photos. There were Naked Lady bulbs scattered in various places when we bought this place. We have scattered them around even more. Of course, it will be several months before they bloom. The green shoots are only about three inches tall at the moment.

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