Come on, Spring 2017!
This post, like all the others I've put up in the previous late winters, is more for my relief in dealing with another long Toronto winter than anything else. There's no theme or message today, just some pictures of colourful flowers and leafy things. (The only real outdoor colour I'm seeing is the yellow from my "Arnold Promise" witch hazel that's blooming his (?) head off right now, just like clockwork.)
I visited the nearby Allan Gardens Conservatory the other day to see what was blooming indoors. The staff is preparing for the Spring Flower Show scheduled to start on March 1 so the show beds still had remnants from the Christmas Flower Show like ornamental kale and cyclamen. I'll return in about a month when the Spring Show is in full "bloom" as it were and post pictures of tulips, daffodils, grape hyacinths, etc. I did manage to take, however, some nice shots of orchids, amaryllises, and some unrelated tropical things below for your enjoyment.
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| Allan Gardens Conservatory white and purple Phalaenopsis orchid |
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| Allan Gardens Conservatory white and purple Phalaenopsis orchids |
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| Allan Gardens Conservatory white and purple veined Phalaenopsis orchids |
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| Allan Gardens Conservatory white pale purple Phalaenopsis orchid |
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| Allan Gardens Conservatory white Phalaenopsis orchid |
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| Allan Gardens Conservatory yellow and purple Phalaenopsis orchids |
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| White and purple Cattleya at Allan Gardens Conservatory |
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| White and purple speckled orchid at Allan Gardens Conservatory |
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| White and purple veined Phalaenopsis orchid at Allan Gardens Conservatory |
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| White Phalaenopsis orchid at Allan Gardens Conservatory |
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| Allan Gardens Conservatory "Clown" amaryllis/Hippeastrum |
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| Allan Gardens Conservatory "Red Lion" amaryllis/ Hippeastrum |
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| Allan Gardens Conservatory "Snow White" amaryllis/ Hippeastrum |
I tried to get "artsy" by photographing the underside of these huge Philodrendon leaves. Was I successful?
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| Allan Gardens Conservatory Philodendron leaf under side |
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| Allan Gardens Conservatory Philodendron leaf underside backlit |
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| Philodendron leaf underside Allan Gardens Conservatory |
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| Allan Gardens Conservatory Philodendron leaf underside |
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| Philodendron leaf underside at Allan Gardens Conservatory |
The camera's flash went off below, unintentionally, due to my fat fingers.
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| Philodendron leaf underside with flash Allan Gardens Conservatory |
Fern fronds when they unfurl resemble cobras so I see five baby snakes emerging from the centre of this Brazilian Tree Fern. I really do like the pale red new fronds (with some pink) contrasting against the mature green leaves!
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| Brazilian Tree Fern (Blechnum brasiliense) opening fronds at Allan Gardens Conservatory |
These witch hazels were in full bloom outside the Conservatory in the public park, With no labels to depend on, I'm guessing the name of this late winter flowering shrub is Hamamelis x intermedia "Diane". The flowers' scent, to me, is a combination of orange peels and burnt rubber but, as the saying goes, "your mileage may vary."
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| At Allan Gardens Hamamelis x intermedia "Diane" witch hazel late winter blooms |
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| Hamamelis x intermedia "Diane" witch hazel late winter blooms at Allan Gardens |
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