Welcome to this week’s edition of Nature Friday where we observe some of the wonder in Nature. As always, we’re joining Rosy, Sunny, Arty and Jakey from LLB in Our Backyard.
We walk past these pretty cool plants all the time and I’ve always wondered what they were. They’re especially perfect being planted in that useless area between the street and sidewalk. I finally figured out they are known as Datura, a plant originally from South America (Datura are related to Brugmansia which looks similar but whose flowers droop downward while Datura blooms always bloom upward). These plants are best known for their bold trumpet shaped flowers and rapid growth. Despite considered a short-lived herbaceous perennial, their self seeding habit assures continually new plants.
Reaching a height up to 4 feet (1 m.) tall, the blooms are fragrant especially at night and make a striking appearance in any moon garden. The flowers are generally white but edged in purple. The flowers are quite large, with soft stems with lobed leaves which have a grayish, green tinge to them and are slightly furred. The prickly looking pod ensures they’ll be back year after year. The seeds inside these pods look similar to tomato seeds but be kept away from pets and small people as these plants are toxic.
They make such a beautiful statement in the garden and their fragrance is divine.
On yesterday’s walk, we took a different route to spice things up and boy am I glad. While many things in the urban landscape are winding down at the end of a long, dry summer, and looking rather dull, image my joy at seeing this reblooming bearded iris along our walk. They are such an appreciated addition to any garden.
Always welcome in the spring, it brings even greater joy in autumn when it blooms a second time.
We’re poised for a great weekend with mild temps in the 303. For the last few days of October, I’ll take it. Norman is ‘pawticipating’ in the hospital’s annual Halloween Fall Festival with pet therapy parade tomorrow and hope there’ll be some fun photos to share next week. We hope you have a ‘pawsome’ weekend and enjoy the amazing elements of Nature.
Live, love, bark 🐾
Beautiful photos, and I love the Charlie Brown! I also love those reblooming iris but have never been able to get mine to rebloom.
Thank you! They’re a special hybrid and are starting to catch on around here. There’s local iris farm a few miles away that is doing incredible work in hybridization. Every year I look forward to his latest addition.
Charlie needs to go trick or treating-he is nothing but skin and bones.
Maybe that’s why people give out candy-to fatten up those skin and bones kids. 🎃
That datura is a very interesting plant. We will have to see if we can find it here.
Have a great weekend.
Woos – Lightning, Misty, and Timber
It’s one of the more interesting flowers around even if it’s toxic as all get out.
When in France we used to be on the look out for the datura to grub them up before the geese could get at them…. thirty odd geese on a hallucinogenic trip would have been all we would have needed!
I cannot. even. comprehend. what a flock of geese tripping would even look liked!
Lulu: “So sad to see that Charlie Brown has turned to a life of crime since ‘Peanuts’ went out of production. Well, I guess you do what you have to!”
Gotta pay the bills!
Ever so fantastich pictures again! Thank you! 🙂
Thanks! I so enjoy finding fascinating opportunities like this week’s finds. Have a great weekend!
That Datura is like a sculpture! And it’s good to see Charlie Brown is alright.
It’s important certain things remain the same and not co-opted by current culture. 😉
I’m absolutely fascinated by these flowers, their curlycue ends are surreal. Have a great weekernd.
Haha!
It is like a painting come to life.
Happy Weekend
That they are, Monika. Amazing.
Hoping you and Norman have a wonderful time in the parade. He’ll be the star of the “show.”
You’re too kind. He’ll definitely be the biggest! 🤣
Datura are unusual indeed – always thought they were truly from outer space (!!)…….I love iris – purple is my favorite color! Charlie Brown looks ready for Halloween!!
Hugs, Pam
I have one of those purple irises but regrettably, it’s not a rebloomer. But boy is it a lovely addition to the iris garden-talk about a showstopper. Have a great weekend!
From South America? I bet they don’t speak Spanish.
Probably Portuguese. 😉
We used to have Datura in my parents yard! They are sure very large! And yes, very toxic…no no for everyone!
I didn’t know irises could bloom a second time! The wonders of nature:)
They’ve been working on these reblooming hybrids for a while. So exciting to take a stunner like that one and get it to rebloom!
Wonderful fall blooms. Have the aspen turned yet? It’s the season for Octoberfest and Halloween beer! Hope everyone is well.
Yes, they’ve turned their golden colors. Not as spectacular as in some years but against a bluebird sky, they’re pretty special. Thanks for dropping by-always glad to see you. Have a swell weekend!
Surprised your Broncos have a string of losses. Excuse to have a beer.
I wish I were. It’s been years since they’ve had a decent offensive line. The management is in disarray and they seem to prefer getting by on the cheap than investing in the future. I feel badly for Bridgewater. He could be an above-average QB if he had some protection and people would would run routes and actually try to catch the ball. Till then it’s good there’s a healthy supply of Stella in the fridge. 😉
I had never heard of Datura until this morning. What a very interesting plant. We seem to have a good number of plants around the place that seem to have originated in South Africa. We have Gazanias everywhere and council are fighting a lost cause trying to get rid of them.
Truth be told I didn’t know anything about them until I found out what they were. I’ve only seen two or three around the neighborhood but they sure are pretty. Gazanias are a favorite here too though in Denver’s climate, they’re annuals. Why would council try to get rid of them?
Council consider them an invasive plant and have been trying to get rid of them, but they are not succeeding – and – to add insult to injury – they are not native and by native they mean not from South Australia. If it were a plant from another state in Australia, they would still be against it.
Whoa…that’s hardcore. But I totally get the invasive species problem. Once something gets a foothold they play havoc and crowd out the natives.
Such pretty nature. We recognize the iris flowers, but I’m pretty sure the rest of them are from outer space.
Love and licks,
Cupcake
It would seem so, Cupcake. 😆
Thanks for the walk about, Monika. Have a super weekend.
Thanks, John. You as well!
How wonderful to see so many pretty flowers around your ‘hood!
Especially at this time of year! Have a super weekend.
Wee admire Datura from afar Miss Monika!
An a dubbell bloomin Iris soundss purrfect! BellaSita lovess her Irisess alot…if wee efurr get outta Covid shee will have to go to a Garden place an see if they have seeds shee can buy an plant!
Happy Weekend to all of youss’.
Xtra **paw kissess** to sweet Norman
***purrss** BellaDharma an {{huggiess}} BellaSita
Yes, pretty to look at from afar for sure. Irises come from rhizomes-see if someone is divided theirs and get one from them. 😊
Mee will meow this inn-fo to BellaSita! Thanx Miss Monika! 😉
Datura! Harness your inner shaman, Monika! That drug (scopolamine) has been in more rituals and ancient magic than mushrooms! Not that I would know of course. Extremely dangerous psychedelic that induces a state of delirium. Otherwise, cute plant. Have a good weekend!
https://youtu.be/piefaiF44Mg
Beautiful flowers! Good luck to Norman. He will charm the pants of everyone!
iris in fall …wow that is suer great!!!!
It surely is! I love these new hybrid rebloomers. 😊
the flower is so sculptural… and isn’t it used in ancient natural medicines… in some dose or way but quite dangerous if taken otherwise. eeek. Can’t risk having those around us living creatures!
Yes, they’re used in Ayurvedic medicine. Detoxification is a deliberate process that should be done only by professionals since the plants are toxic. But oh are they ever beautiful and fragrant.
Beautiful nature. Flowers always makes me smile.
I can’t wait to see Norman’s volunteering adventures. I love Norman.
Have a fabulous day and weekend. Scritches to the pups and a big smooch to Norman. ♥
Especially as most of the garden is preparing for their winter slumber, it’s quite the sight to see this week’s entries. Have a super weekend.
What a wonderful discovery! Thank you for sharing.
Happy Friday and weekend, Monika!
My pleasure and thanks as always for your support. Love being able to share nature’s beauty with those who truly appreciate it. Enjoy a lovely weekend, my friend.
I love that you love to share 🙂
I shall! Tomorrow, I’m going to go try to recapture that wood duck 😉
I love Datura, so dramatic and exotic!
It’s a real beauty and a real hidden gem.
It is!
Beautiful garden!
Thanks! Enjoy a great weekend.