Sunday, November 22, 2009

The last of the bougainvillea


Last year at this time we were blessed with three beautiful bougainvillea plants which produced the most gorgeous leaves. Then we experienced the coldest winter since moving to Ocala with two back-to-back nights in the 20s. That ended the bougainvilleas. They've since been replaced with flora less hazardous and easier-to-care-for, but not quite as pretty.

If you click on it, the photo might get bigger.

38 comments:

Dan J. said...

The is beautiful. The reds are totally stunning. Color here is at a complete absence. We have multiple shades of grey.... and brown. Thankfully, Christmas lights are starting to appear. At least we'll have some manufactured color for a while.

Don and Krise said...

Wow, look at that color. Sorry you lost them. I looked today and we're supposed to get down into the twenties next week. Oh joy!

Memphis MOJO said...

You were right, it did get bigger. Very pretty, too.

tapirgal said...

OK, normally I prefer the "real thing" photos, but what you did with this is just perfect. I LOVE this one! I grew up with bougainvillea outside the window, and I enjoyed seeing it tonight. Yes, summer is gone here. Nothing but pouring rain and howling winds and a few sun breaks. It's still gorgeous, but not as inviting to get outside.

Olivier said...

bel effet photoshop (ou autre)

Small City Scenes said...

Bougainvillas are so so pretty. Gorgeous hot colors. They don't do well here at all. An expensive annual. So striking though. MB

Pat said...

Still nice colors! I love all sorts of bougainvillea!

cieldequimper said...

Next year... ;-) beautiful shot! You are about to mourn your bougainvillées and we're mourning the trees... ;-)

VP said...

I am not a big fan of effects, but this is not bad as photo. As an bstract image is really beautiful!

Jim Klenke said...

I think this one has a nice color.

Unseen Rajasthan said...

Beautiful and lovely shot Jaocb !! Great Post !!

Antjas said...

I'm surprised that you lost them. You could try again and next time you know you're in for a cold spell, give them a sheet to cover up with. That's what we do up to here to extend the season. I actually grow Agapanthus here in Mass., truly not meant for this zone and they make it through the worst of winters. I cover them up with a blanket of leaves.

Leif Hagen said...

A lovely photo of some beautiful blooms! Happy Thanksgiving, early! I don't know why I'm being so darn nice today?

Lowell said...

@ Safe Leif - The reason, I'm sure, is that Santa is coming and you have a lot to make up for in the next month! If you are really nice, you may even get one present.

Hilda said...

Heehee, I have to agree with you — bougainvillea bloom so wonderfully and need so little care but those dang thorns make pruning them so difficult! Not to mention the fact that the blooms all die after a day so there's always lots and lots to sweep in the morning. ;)

Lowell said...

@ Hilda - Actually, I glad their gone; they just weren't worth the trouble. And being close to the pool, thorny stuff always ended up in the water when I was trying to trim them. Yikes!

Lowell said...

@ Antjas - Thank you for the hint. Actually we did try to cover them for several years - but they grew so big it was impossible. (Every plant in Florida will grow into a tree if it gets the chance!). Read my comment to Hilda. :-)

Halcyon said...

The only place I've ever seen bougainvilla is in the south of France. Very beautiful!

Ilse said...

I love this flower. Reminds me of happy times in the south of France.

Cezar and Léia said...

In need to confess that I'm not good to know names of birds, plants or flowers.Thanks for teaching me !
This flower is so beautiful, I enlarged the picture and it's nicer!
Léia

Judy said...

They don't grow here but I love to see them blooming in the valley whenever we venture down the mountain to Phoenix. Nice picture.

Lowell said...

@ Memphis - Thanks. If you told that to people who know me, they would probably tell you that's the first time ever that I've been right about anything!

jusdealem said...

Very pretty! It's so gloomy here, that really brightened my day! :)

Daryl said...

Those sure POP!

EG CameraGirl said...

Too bad the temperatures went so low and killed your precious plants. The blossoms are so pretty - I'm assuming they are every bit as pretty as the ones I've seen in Phoenix.

Rob Siemann said...

Gorgeous flowers. Named after a frenchman! :)

Lois said...

That color sure is beautiful Jacob!

Frank said...

The colors are so vivid and the flowers just beautiful. You enhanced the whole image. Nice!

Even though you live "up north," you haven't learned to cover all the "sensitive" plants and then give each and every one their own little heater. Love-e-e your plants, Jacob. Even the ones that have thorns and stick you when you and the Mrs. are "dipping" in the pool. :)

Lowell said...

@ Frank - Oh, oh! Who told you about the "dipping"?

nopham said...

Beautiful! Good shot! They're my favorite plants. I have 3 in my garden. They're bonsai and thornless, but they're not blooming at this time. Please tell L.A.to slow down.

Lowell said...

@ Nopham - Sounds like you are enjoying the Florida lifestyle once again! In spite of their beauty these plants are a pain...but I might like the bonsai and thornless ones!

Tell L.A. to slow down? Hah!

Lowell said...

@ Asta - Our winter temperatures are not as warm as South Florida, but we usually stay in the 60s or 70s during the day and the 40s or 50s at night. On occasion we will dip into the 30s at night and once in a blue moon into the 20s.

Last year, though, we had two nights in succession at about 22 degrees, and while a lot of our plants can take one night at the temperature, they can't survive two nights.

Unknown said...

This is a very cool photo, Jacob! There are still some in bloom here too, but you can easily tell it's about to end.

Tussy said...

This is so beautiful, match to someone's theme day as RUBY Tuesday!

You Got A Posty
All Little Things I Like

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

These are hard to capture well and you did a great job!! Beautiful.

amatamari© said...

I really like this bougainvillea: photo enhances the beauty of color!
Beautiful shot!

Louis la Vache said...

What happened?! «Louis» clicked the photo and it got smaller!

Lowell said...

@ Louis - Stop pulling my leg, you mad cow!

"Photographers deal in things which are continually vanishing and when they have vanished there is no contrivance on earth which can make them come back again." — Henri Cartier-Bresson