Pomegranate: A Perfect Grenade?

This is pomegranate bud, still about to turn into a full-grown flower. Whether it matures into a fruit, we still yet to see for  quite a number of monkeys have an eye on it and the others along with it. Many would have seen its full-grown fruit. Many would have eaten its juicy sweet seeds but none would have seen how a delicious fruit turns when it's youngest stage.

Pomegranate is revered to be a symbol of health, fertility and eternal life. Why exactly, you can tell me yourself.

It is known to be native of Persia and has been propagated in various places. It is available in grocery stores and fruit stalls all year round. Although, it is on the costlier side here in India, people tend to buy this fruit for pooja (prayer offering) purposes. While for my husband and I, it is part of our daily breakfast meal - 2 pomegranate fruits every morning along with other fruits like apple, orange, grapes, guava, etc, whatever fruit is in season.

In Philippines, we call it granada, (grenade) because of its shape, the word being of Spanish influence.

Persian Cornflower: A Shade of Pink

Persian Cornflower looks like this while facing the upside basking under the sun. This picture was taken on the same day the blue one was taken. Although I only saw and captured two of its varied colors, the other day I saw one which is purple. I went inside the house to get my camera but when I went back to the garden the monkey already had it. Bad monkey - always has an eye on these blooms! Once it blooms again, it will be an entry here. Promise!

Persian Cornflower: A Blue Crown?

Persian Cornflower is also known as Whitewash Cornflower maybe because the underside of the leaves is covered in silver hairs.

It is native to Caucasus Mountains and north-east Turkey where it grows on mountain meadows and stony slopes. Persian Cornflowers attract butterflies and bees

Like Nasturtium and Gazania, Persian Cornflower also doesn't need much water so over-watering is extremely prohibited. And to avoid over seeding, removing the dying flowers is suggested then collect the seeds, if you like, for further propagation.

Gazania in White Dominance

According to readings, Gazanias are grown for the brilliant color of their flowerheads which appear in the late spring and are often in bloom throughout the summer into autumn. They prefer a sunny position and are tolerant of dryness and poor soils. They are indeed, drought-tolerant.

It's my first time to capture its beauty. I have never known its name before.

Gazanias are of different color combination of which I don't know which one is most common. One thing is sure, though, they are beautiful. I am planting it in our own yard. Hope to see it bloom this summer till autumn.

Nasturtium: Flower Plant That Prefers Poor Soil

On 27th March 2013, Holi day (festival of colors) in India, my husband and I decided to join the officers around here celebrating the festival of colors although we don't celebrate any festivities. Preferring to roam around we clicked hundreds of blooming flowers in early spring around the campus especially the ones near the Officers' Mess. Nasturtium is one of these blooms.
According to readings, Nasturtium is easy to grow. Its leaves and flowers are edible. It blooms well exposed to the sun and like the subtitle above, it prefers to grow in poorer soil. Do not over-water and cutting off withered or dead flowers prolongs blooming.
Nasturtium comes in different colors: orange, yellow (like above), and red.

Note: We were discussing about its name while taking a photograph of it. That day was the first time we encountered this flower up close although we have seen it from afar. When we got home my husband searched the internet for its name, for definitely it has a name. And gotcha, he did found it's name and its NASTURTIUM.