July 16, 2010

bountiful bougainvilleas


One of the most beautiful plant or flower I've come to admire is the bougainvillea. I first noticed them during my trip to Hearst Castle at San Simeon, while walking through the luscious mediterranean-style garden, admiring vines and bundles of flowering adorning the walls, fences and entryways surrounding the castle. Then I took notice of them at the Botanical Garden at Golden Gate Park, and even the front yards of the houses in my neighborhood. These plants are gorgeous and I've seen them in every color there are which is amazing - lilac, orange, white, red, violet, dark blue, etc... I wanted to find out the name of this plant so I went to the local library and checked out the large hard-covered bound volume of the Hearst's Castle focusing on the gardens and the lands. Luckily I found it!

It's called 'bougainvillea' which is hybrid of flowering plants native to South America from Brazil west to Peru and south to southern Argentina. There are between four and 18 species in the genus, which explains the bountiful colors and varieties I have seen. I wished that I could grow a pot in my own apartment one day or let it adorn one corner of a living space. It does require a dry environment, with hot temperatures for it to bloom. This is by far the only kind of flowering plant that I am enraptured by. It's very very beautiful that I have to include it in this blog! ;-) Just looking at it makes one feel grateful for the beauty it possess, nothing fancy or extravagant, it just is gorgeous just the way it is. Don't you think? ;-)

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