A FEW FLOWERS

 The flowers I share today have links on their first name where you can read more information.

Florida Swamp Lily goes by other names also, Seven sisters, Southern Swamp Crinum, String lily, American Crinum, Crinum lily and Southern swamp lily.  Botanical name: Crinum americanum.

Autumn sage and its other names are Texas sage, Red Chihuahuan sage, Cherry sage and Gregg salvia. Botanical name: Salvia greggii.

American beautyberry, also known as French mulberry, Beautyberry and Pure beautyberry. Botanical name: Callicarpa americana.

Shell ginger, also called Shellplant, Pink porcelain lily, Indian shell flower, Shellflower, Light galangal, Variegated ginger, Butterfly Ginger. Botanical name: Alpinia zerumbet.

Chinese hibiscus, also known as Shoeblack plant, Rose mallow, Hawaiian hibiscus, Shoe-flower and Tropical hibiscus. Botanical name Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.

Garden cosmos, also known as Tall cosmos, Mexican aster, Cosmos and Annual cosmos. It's botanical name is Cosmos bipinnatus.

That's all for now. I see the weather is warming up this week, so I am looking forward to going for a walk around the botanical garden.

Thanks for visiting, have a great day and I hope the sun is shining where you are.

A FAVORITE PHOTO

I cannot remember where I took this photo, but I loved the shape of it and best of all the color. Because it will be a while before I see such flowers again, I have been looking at some of my old photos.

You will probably recognize the Garden cosmos, also known as Tall cosmos, Mexican aster, Cosmos and Annual cosmos. Its botanical name is Cosmos bipinnatus.

It is an herbaceous annual plant often cultivated as an ornamental in temperate regions. Due to its self- sowing ability, garden cosmos can grow on the same spot for several years, even though it is an annual. Not surprisingly, this quality also made it an invasive species in certain areas of the world. Happily it is not toxic to animals or humans. 

"Cosmos" is from the Greek language, meaning a harmonious and orderly universe. Contrary to "chaos", Cosmos is used to describe how these charming flowers bring colors to gardens, so it is called the garden cosmos.

I was also very interested to find out that that Cosmos represents science. The story goes that it was once chosen to be given to Saint Felix, the dean of the monastic college in Oxford. He made great contributions to the development of Oxford and Oxford University. It can be said that he is the patron saint of knowledge. Another saying about it is that it represents wild beauty and eternal happiness, a symbol of order and harmony.

I think I will be planting these in our garden next growing season in great profusion.

Thanks for looking everyone and I hope your day is a great one.