Portugal Plant ID

I used to work in a floral shop and competed in floral design competitions in high school. Since then, flowers have become more of a side passion as I pursue a career in finance.

But my appreciation for their beauty hasn’t gone away. I still get excited when I spot something interesting growing out in the “wild.” These are some of the most eye-catching flowers I came across during my trip to Portugal, all taken on the grounds of Quinta da Regaleira.


Helleborus:
This flower is commonly used in floral design. Its form is cup-shaped, almost like something a fairy could sleep inside. These were a deep purple, but they come in a range of colors.


Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae):
Another staple in floral shops, especially in tropical arrangements. I’ve seen these planted around the U.S., but Quinta had them everywhere. They get their name from their resemblance to a bird, with the orange and blue “beak” shape.


Red hot poker (Kniphofia), also called torch lily:
This one stood out immediately. I had never seen it before. To me, they looked like orange toilet brushes, but my friend said they looked like flames, which makes more sense given the name.






Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ten Best Photos

Image
#10 Cutting Privet at the Nature Refuge The smiles and bad posture say it all. It's hard work but fun to do with friends.  #9 The Trinity River While not the prettiest sight to see, it reminds me of home. I love having a trail to run on near TCU.  #8 Nazare, Portugal: The Great Wave While in Portugal, I took a day trip to see some huge waves. It was cold and raining sideways but well worth it.  #7 The Duck Pond A great place to hang out with the ducks.  #6 Marine Creek Lake The orange and blue complimentary colors look beautiful next to each other.  #5 Sintra, Portugal - Quinta da Regaleira Colorful tree and moody building. #4 Frog Fountain  A classic.  #3 San Marcos River It looked like a real life Van Gogh painting. Or a peacock feather. We swam in the water too and it was refreshing.  #2 Duoro Valley, Portugal Home of port wine, vineyards here have had the same techniques for the past 800 years.  My Best Photo:  #1 Birds of Paradise...
Read more

Why I Need Wild

My perspective throughout this semester has completely shifted regarding the wild, and why I, in fact, do need wild. I think throughout this course, I’ve begun to think about what society would have looked like if “wild” was something we cherished rather than something we tried to destroy. In order for an area to progress in our own minds, we think we need to level the land, put concrete everywhere, and then have a park somewhere else. But what if the utopian society we looked forward to was one where we are with nature, rather than a sci-fi, ultra high-tech, mega-skyscraper city? I think a goal of mine now is to become better in nature. To have more knowledge on how to camp, stay safe, and explore this vast earth. I hope wild isn’t something that feels “out there” to me, but something that one day I feel a part of. Some of my favorite moments this past semester have been the times where I go outside and am intentional about what I’m thinking, knowing I’ll write about it later in my bl...
Read more

Roots in Two Places

Image
One of my favorite trees on TCU’s campus stands alone right outside of Sadler. Its dark barky trunk stretches upward before splitting into long branches. These branches reach out in every direction, like veins spreading across the sky. Its crown is wide and healthy, revealing whoever planted the tree chose a good depth. During the winter months, the branches are mostly bare. What remains is something just as beautiful to me: small twiggy branches draping downward under the weight of the seed pods.  Tree outside Sadler:    I took a second glance at this tree earlier this semester when I realized it reminded me of another place entirely.  Last year while studying abroad in Rome, I often took long walks along the Tiber River. The riverbanks were lined with tall plane trees. Bark peeled away, revealing smooth trunks beneath. Their branches stretched over the sidewalk and water, forming a canopy above the path. Even when bare in the winter, they gave the city a quiet live...
Read more