On my second trip to the nursery garden, I asked to see what they carried that the hummingbirds would love. Surprisingly they love the Australian native plants (though Australia has no hummers!)
I was having an out-of-body experience looking at all the beautiful array of blooms...as uniquely different as their animals! This is called a Golden Grevillea, but like many, it's an awfully large plant. The bees liked it! We didn't buy this one (it wouldn't have fit in the car!) The colours were absolutely dreamy...I loved one called Peaches and Cream!
It isn't a matter of showing you the best or the prettiest flower I photographed. I just had to go with something and this, to me, is so unique. I could fill an album with the flower photos! What a day!
@laurieewilson We also bought 2 sage plants that look like they'll have lovely flowers. We have lavender in the front yard, so I would seldom be where I could watch for them out there. I want them to have something that I like looking at and that they want! Can't wait to get it all home and start planting!
@laurieewilson Hmmm...EXCELLENT input! We did buy two different types, but I'd go back and see if they have that! I'd recall the name had I seen it! Thanks! (Ken commented today that he's amazed how much information everyone shares on here! It's all so helpful and educational!)
Beautiful. Fav. In Australia we have a huge number of nectar loving birds. Our Grevillias come in many forms and heights. They have also many cultivars, of which your picture is one.
I believe Cultivars are a cross with other plants of the same genus. The breeders of plants will experiment by crossing a very hardy Grevillia with one which has more spectacular flowers.
@ethelperry Thank you for the information! I'm sure the choices were far less than you might have there, but I've never seen such a collection in ANY nursery out here! We're learning that this region about Santa Barbara has its own micro-climate that makes it quite sought after for nurseries and tree farms. They grow a lot of avocados around here, and nurseries are profuse! Of couse that makes housing harder to come by, and the prices can become astronomical! Our SIL is the music director for a private high school here, and the school provides housing for the faculty. It might otherwise be prohibitive! Visiting here is like a resort holiday!
I love reading all the comments as they are so interesting! We can learn so much from our 365 friends! Fabulous capture of this plant with that bee hovering! That garden centre sounds like a perfect place to visit for photos! I think a book of your beautiful captures is on the cards! Fav!
Amazing what you can learn on this site! I knew that this was a grevillea, without ever having seen one in person, just from following people in Australia. It's not just about the photography!
What a flower. So unusual! It's a shame you aren't in Texas, almost every garage has a pickup in it to haul stuff. If you don't own a pickup, you always know several people who do. I know, next time you visit you can rent a uHaul, Ken would love that!
So pleasing that people across the world are enjoying our grevillias - they are spectacular! Now if only we had hummimgbirds, I would be in 7th heaven :) fav
