Monday, February 25, 2013

Exotic Flowers - bits and pieces

Sweet William

Kodakanal is not only a tourist destination or summer paradise; it’s a wonderful place to explore exotic as well wild beautiful flowers. Kodaikanal has one of the best climates to grow variety of flowing plants to blossom at vibrant colors, enriches the already fascinating atmosphere and gracefulness at exists. Many a time I had said Kodaikanal is one of my favorite place and among many a thing that cherish me at sense, flowers had been my enormous passion and desire to ahead there just like many other flourish my heart.

Even I feel sorry for the evergreen, mist and moisture environment being draw backed into a concrete jungle where only man could live other than any others. I still hold breathe though the remnants and hope left around the mountains in protection of nature and wildlife. Comeback to flowers, I had wonderful opportunities while staying there a good few times at different locations and each cottage or house has at least few flower plants to bloom at exotic and even the general flowers look enhance and more refreshing in vibrant colors.

The flower you see in the picture above is called 'Sweet William'. Doesn't it rely upon the essence? But there’s an interesting yet bad reputed  story behind the flower which bears a common English title, even it believed truly uncertain, Sweet William is often said to honor the 18th century Prince William, Duke of Cumberland.  Prince William, the younger son of King George II is infamous for his generally brutal treatment on the enemies and his savage after the Battle of Culloden earned him the title Butcher Cumberland. It is also claimed that the Scots sometimes call the flower as Stinking Billy and to this day, there are many in Scotland who will not grow this plant in their gardens.

Also the English botanist John Gerard referred Sweet William, a member of the large Dianthus family in his garden catalogue of 1596, 150 years before Culloden. Sweet Williams are a hardy biennial flower that sown during mid-years, blooms in pretty colors of pink, white, red and purple.

The green flower you see in the photo below is called Sedum, a flowering plant from the family of Crassulaceae whose members are commonly known as stone-crops  The sedums are cultivated as garden plants, due to their interesting and attractive appearance. The various species of the plant differ in their requirements: some are cold-hardy but do not tolerate heat and some are quite opposite. The so pretty blue color delphinium on the photo down right is little harming to humans because of the presence of toxic in them. The plants commonly seen on high elevation areas significantly cause cattle poisoning on rangelands in western US.

Blue delphinium
Sunflowers

Green flower

18 comments:

Optimistic Existentialist said...

The Sweet William is a beautiful flower indeed!!

George said...

Thank you for the interesting historical information about Sweet William. I enjoyed your pictures very much. We have sedum in some of our flower beds.

TexWisGirl said...

they sure are lovely, even if some carry bad history or toxic qualities.

Anonymous said...

Oh, how very beautiful these flowers are!

Indrani said...

Such lovely captures. They cheer me up.

Karen Lakis said...

The flowers are beautiful. That's interesting about Sweet William. I thought there was a story there, but couldn't remember what it was.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Beautiful colors, Jeevan. This time of year here (winter) when things are brown and drab, it's great to see some beautiful colored flowers. Sweet Williams are great flowers---SO pretty.

We have Sedum in our yard. Ours is called Autumn Joy Sedum.. I love it.

Have a great day.
Betsy

Devilish Angel said...

Lovely shots...Nice colors...

Preetilata【ツ】 said...

Wow! once again a very beautiful and informative and of course an interesting post.

Your are a true nature lover.

All the pics are so pretty and my fav is of the sunflower as sunflowers are my fav. flower.

Destination Infinity said...

The green flower looks very different. It looks as if it is stitched with leaves! Good to know the story behind william flower :)

Destination Infinity

Vetirmagal said...

Lovely flowers. Sedum grows here too, but not as pretty or lush as in Kodai.

I appreciate your concern about diminishing nature and increasing concrete jungle. Man wants a lot of space to live, huge houses, recreations. They create at the cost of nature. If only they could accommodate a little of nature in each homes, by shrinking their wants a little, concrete jungles will also show case flowers and trees.

Elsie Amata said...

I am anxiously awaiting Spring's arrival so I can see all of these pretty flowers again! I'm so tired of snow and rain. Visiting your blog was a breath of fresh air, thank you!!

Ponniyinselvan/karthikeyan(1981-2005 ) said...

what a wonderful flower.amazing.Where did you see it? can we get one? Really i want to have one.BEAUTIFUL. I am crazy to own one.
karthik+amma

deeps said...

delphinium is one that caught my attention...
nice work friend

Jeevan said...

Pattu Raj - True Pattu! Everyone needs to grow a tree or at least grow some pants or shrub at home. Kodaikanal is changing its aspect day by day flourished by concrete structures. I wonder even at small left over place around homes could produce such beauties, what if these blooms at large! We are losing everyday rather that thinking we are sophisticated.

Ponniyinselvan – Yes, they are amazing. Where you think I would have shot these? :) hum... Kodaikanal. A place u connects with memories often.

Thank you all for the great visits and comments... I truly appreciate!

Anonymous said...

Lovely flowers! And some very interesting bits of trivia to go with them. :)

Jyoti Mishra said...

nature.. and its never ending beauty !!

amit said...

Natural beauty of exotic flowers . So beautiful.