MACRO MONDAY ~ THE GEORGIA O'KEEFFE FLOWER

Have you ever had a perfect moment in photography? The light is perfect, no breeze, all is still, the angles, the subject...everything?  It felt this way when I was able to get these pictures of our white Brugmansia just before the Christmas frost. I took many, many photos, but these are the best. Happy Macro Monday! And...to see the rest, visit our delightful host Lisa at http://lisaschaos.com/
Oh, and if one of these is your favorite, please tell me. I'd love to know. Thanks.

                      (click on photo for Macro)  This is probably my favorite. The viewer wants to peer into that mysterious interior while viewing all around the edges. I captured a little green at the bottom to show perspective and to give the eye a place to go and 'rest' from all the whiteness.  The hint of sunlight at the top of the crest shows some of the detailed hairs and gives a hint of texture. Can you see what I'm talking about, or am I just crazy? :0)

A few facts & my experience with  Brugmansias:

1. They tolerate NO frost, but are very root hardy and regrow faster than any plant outside of vines and bamboo. In a light frost, they will sprout from the stems and regrow even faster. They can bloom in one season after freezing back to the ground. That's amazing!

2. They are quite poisonous. Do NOT grow indoors around pets and small children.

3. They are prone to love high humidity and droop in low humidity. They can recover from dry spells.

4. They are very thirsty plants and need watering daily in temps above 92 degrees.

5. They can grow into small trees and have beautiful  foliage and flowers.

6. I have two varieties and really enjoy the fragrance of one. The other is overpowering.

7. I would recommend this plant for Hawaii, Australia, Tropical Asia, Central America, Central & South Florida, Puerto Rico and the West Indies. It can be grown outdoors in Houston and San Antonio (?).

8. They readily root from cuttings or directly in moist soil.

9. They are native to subtropical South America.

Thanks for stopping by Tropical Texana.

GARDEN BLOGGERS MONTHLY BOUQUET ~ LAST OF THE YEAR

Noelle at http://azplantlady.com/  hosts our monthly bouquet group. Are there any brave souls out there in the cold, bleak winter searching for those last flowers to assort and display? Go visit and see. :0)

                Not exactly Christmas colors, but Tradescantia doesn't come in red. If it does, send me some!

                                    Ah, that's better!  Mexican Firespike with variegated Alstroemeria. I did this for the November bouquet and it was such a hit with my wife, I did it for this month as well.

         After a year of regrowing from last Winter's freeze, the Brugmansia finally blooms just in time for the Holdiays.  Talk about patience...a whole year of waiting for this one bloom. That's 2 1/2 bouquets for this time around. The Brugmansia  hardly counts, but I think it's pretty.  Thanks for visiting. David :0)