Discovery Park’s been on my mind, so of course I’ve gone there for our first mystery flower of 2014. These are actually 2013’s flowers, mind – these photos are from a hike we took in June last year. They remind me how much I miss the sun and wish I was good at flamenco dancing.
Don’t they look positively Spanish? They remind me of those lovely flame-like dresses some Spanish dancers wear, and they also remind me of castanets.
The bushes looked like they were dripping fire.
These do not appear to be true flowers to me. I think they are bracts serving the purpose of petals. They seem to be busy guarding the fruits which are growing within.
Looks like part of the bracts or petals or what have you drop off when the little berry sort of things are ripe.
There’s a nice view of one of its long leaves for ye. This was a huge bushy plant, just as big as, if not bigger than, some of the rhodies.
Magnificent. Loves me some really outstanding and unusual plants when I’m out on a walkabout. Hopefully one or two of you will know what it is, and it won’t turn out to be some horrible invasive thingy.
And, just since I got meself in the mood for castanets and might have done the same to you…
Lonicera involucrata, or twin-berry honeysuckle. Looks like you missed the actual flowers, and got only the flamenco fruit. ;) They’re lovely, very dramatic. A flower with flair.
It is, in fact, native to North America, which should be nice to know. :)
ZOMG FINALLY! I was positive they were a horrid invasive, just because I like ’em. I’ll have to get you all some photos of the flowers this year!
haha, No, you’re right on the money this time. Woohoo!
My page of general knowledge doesn’t have any information on when they bloom, though. You’ll just have to take a wander!
My first thought was “Why has someone been pruning that bush?” Then I realized it was deer.
Very nice, Dana.
I’ve been attempting to catalog all the native plants on our property–now I’m sad we don’t have this beauty. We do have Lonicera ciliosa (Orange Honeysuckle), but it’s not nearly as dramatic either in flower or fruiting. Now I’m just counting down the days until the Trilliums (Trillium ovatum and T. parviflorum) bloom–Spring!