Posted on by Cathy

Seen Outside…..

Even though daily life activities here in Victoria are being expanded day by day, restrictions eased, doors opened that have been shut for months, we are still not able to travel long distances so I’m still reliving trips away to places far far from home. I’m thinking armchair travel is going to be a way of life for a little while yet.

I once saw the climate in Melbourne described as Temperate but quite variable…known for its changeable weather patterns …lol four seasons in one day isn’t far from the mark. It can be hot and dry, it can definitely be cold and wet but what it isn’t is tropical…..except on some really hot humid days we might get in the summertime 😎

So one of the things I look forward to seeing when we are out and about in Queensland ….because I’ve never seen them growing in Melbourne and they just seem to shout out Tropical ….are the beautiful Bougainvillea which seem to grow like weeds, they are everywhere. Bright bursts of colour climbing over and around anything and everything reminding me of the big climbing Banksia roses that do well down south.

This week I’ve been reminding myself of some seen on a trip in 2009
I hope you enjoy them as well

We saw this lovely pink and white bush in a car park of all the places at Winton.
all on its own and looking a little out of place amongst the natives.
Maybe self sown

The actual flowers are the little white ‘bits’ in the coloured bracts

But what I did like was the way some businesses used it decoratively.
This was a lovely white strain growing up an archwayin front of a cafe in Longreach
It had a really nice cool look to it and there didn’t seem to be any thorns on this one.
which is possibly why it was placed so very strategically in front of the cafe

You can see the little flowers more clearly here

Now this to me was the most appealing of all
Mountains of colour at several spots along the main street of Bowen
One side of Herbert Street is higher than the other
and there were several of these fabulous covered crossings along the street.
(sadly removed during a ‘street renovation’)

A beautifully shaded area under those enormous Bougainvillea shrubs
Those bench seats looked so inviting

Thank you Kay (at Musings) for the inspiration……for this post.
To enlarge click or use the two finger slide

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bougainvillea.
https://floridata.com/plant/553
https://www.abc.net.au/gardening/plant-finder/bougainvillea/9441670

Sunday Selections is hosted by Elephants Child.  Find Nature Notes at Rambling Woods. 
Denyse Whelan Blogs is the home of Life this Week
Linking also to  – Travel Tuesday – My Corner of the World – Our World Tuesday.

38 Replies to “Seen Outside…..”

    1. They seem to grow like topsy Helen. There might be some info online about ways to train. Which structure are best…..homemade preferably but strong. I’ve never seen a little one 😊

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  3. They are spectacular aren’t they? The thorns can be a serious issue though. I grew them when we lived in Central West NSW but have sneered when I have seen them in nurseries here. I strongly suspect the first real hint of winter would do for them.

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    1. Given a chance nurseries would try to sell snow to Eskimos……like you say, the first sign of frost the plant would turn up its toes. I don’t know if they’d grow inside, say in a polytunnel but then you’d never get to see the display

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  4. lovely amazing colours – yes I know about the thorns, we had one on fence that was actually the neighbours but it had slid through gaps to find the sun, and it bought it’s thorns with it…we were forever clipping bits back as the fence was on our driveway…BUT I don’t think our climate produces that type of magnificent display…

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    1. I know they certainly wouldn’t grow as far south as Melbourne- even though I’m sure there’s some gardeners who’d try pushing the envelope. I don’t remember seeing it in Adelaide but it could take a Mediterranean type climate. Anyway it’s my special tropical eye candy when I’m away 😊

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  6. I’d love to grow those here. But the frost kills them
    Have to add colour with other plants.
    Yes it’s lovely we are slowly coming out of hibernation
    And it’s wonderful the weather is getting nicer too

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  7. It’s almost a wild plant here in Attica (Greece). I saw a huge example growing over a carport in Perama last spring; neon pink so bright it almost seemed to pulsate. It was a solid builing sized mass of clolour that seemed to have some inner light source. (F)

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    1. Greece and Bougainvillea seem to go together don’t they. There was so much around when we were last there it could be thought of as a national bloom

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    1. Not too far a distance Lydia – from memory about two hours. The long straight road from Winton to Hughenden was much longer, took about four, the road had been flooded and was very broken up in places! Outback travel at its best lol
      That year we did a couple of weeks out west then had our usual six in Bowen. Winter away from Melbourne….sadly missed this year due to closed borders.

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    1. Hello Debbie. Weren’t they just fabulous to look at, so bright and almost comforting. Makes my day when we start to come across them…I know I’m going to be warm 😎

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  11. How funny! I did a post about bougainvillea too a few days ago. I have to say your pink and white bush totally amazed me. It’s gorgeous! Your bushes are a whole lot bigger than the potted ones in my neighborhood.

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    1. Yes Kay it was yours that reminded me I had all these photos tucked away in a folder. They certainly grow big up there don’t they 😊

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    1. I should have said, I really like the white one you have showed here and I really like them over the structures in the street

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    2. I’d like to see it Kylie….one house owner I spoke to said they had a mind of their own. Cut them back hard and they come back more vigorous than before!

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  13. Bougainvilleas always put on a beautiful display don’t they Cathy? I loved your photos of them and the array of different colours. Our neighbour has one on our adjoining fence and it always adds a lovely splash of colour to both our yards.

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    1. Thanks for your comment Leanne. I’m quickly discovering Bougainvillea seems to grow everywhere but in Melbourne 😊. Do you have many problems with the thorns or do you just steer clear of it?

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  14. I’ve heard of bougainvillias but have never seen them before, neither in real life nor in pictures, so I hadn’t realised what an extraordinary, vibrant, huge and over the top plant it can be. Interesting about the tiny flowers.

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    1. Just wait a few months Michelle and I’ll be moaning and groaning about cold and grey….that’s when we pack up and go north…to see Bougainvilleas and forget about the cold.
      Take care – Stay safe – and I hope life becomes easier and less stressful soon

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  18. I totally love the massed colours of the bougainvilleas but…sadly I am not loving their thorns. We grew one once not realising just what a hazard it would be on the posts of our carport. I admire others! Loads here in NSW and particularly on the coast.

    Thanks for linking up for Life This Week. Next week, the optional prompt is 45/51 Share Your Snaps #9 9.11.2020 and I would love to see you there! Denyse.

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  21. I’m not sure I would love your weather, but I know I would love your flowers! What incredible colors! They do tend to make one smile 🙂

    It’s great to see your link at ‘My Corner of the World’ this week!

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