All Photos By Gail
London is the only city where I’ve seen rose bushes grow as tall as houses. During a visit to Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, I didn’t even need to crouch to capture this trio of pink roses against a perfect summer sky. If you were in London during the first half of August 2024, you’ll remember the freakish heat wave, with temperatures soaring above 90°F. Just looking at this photo brings back that sweltering glow!
If you’re shivering your way through a frigid winter in an east coast city like New York, where layering-up to leave the house is a thing, and flowers won’t be blooming for few months yet, maybe scrolling through this collection of ten photos of colorful summer blossoms will warm you up.
Of course we have thistles here in New York State, but nothing like this giant thistle flower — also known as Cynara Cardunculus or Cardoon — which is the size of my fist! Impressive!
Also looking a bit spiky is the Scadoxus Puniceus, also called a Paintbrush Lily, which is one of South Africa’s most striking bulbous plants.
Another beautiful flowering plant that I’ve seen at the NYBG and also in California desert areas in the Red Hot Poker Plant (Uvaria Kniphofia), which never fails to be completely photogenic.
Erythrina Humeana, commonly known as the Dwarf Coral Tree, is an ornamental tree native to South Africa. New Yorkers can can find these in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory at the NYBG in the Bronx, where the temperature always makes you feel like you are in the Amazon jungle. Just being serious.
Cestrum Fasciculatum is a species of flowering plant in the family Solanaceae known by the common names Early Jessamine and Red Cestrum. What I love about this particular cluster of tiny blooms is its nearly perfect heart shape! I may need to repurpose this one for Valentines Day.
This perfect specimen of purple Japanese Anemone (Eriocapitella X Hybrida) was spotted in Kew’s expansive Japanese Garden, naturally.
Verbena Bonariensis (Purpletop Vervain) is native to tropical South America where it grows throughout most of the warm regions, from Colombia and Brazil to Argentina and Chile.
Nymphaea Lotus or Water-lily is always fun to photograph.
Let’s wrap this up with another nearly perfect Pink English Rose, which just barely shows signs of heat fatigue while still looking resplendent. Despite their delicate appearance, roses are quite hardy. I’ve seen them bloom well into fall and even covered with a light snow in winter.
For more information about Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, visit their website at This Link.