Roof garden: Part 1

Sorry I should have posted this in Winter 2014-15 instead of Winter 2015-16


In anticipation of Spring along with an undeniable craving for more plants around me I think I got a bit carried away buying bulbs, seeds and seedlings to grow. On the heater (which I do not use) under one window amidst the African violets (Saintpaulia) are some Daffodils (Narcissus) and Grape hyacinths (Muscari neglectum), not to mention to Begonias which I am still waiting to see signs of life from.

So with one window chock full of plants already I pretty much did the same to the other. Here (above) I have Asiatic Lilies (Lilium), Siberian Irises (Iris sibirica), Dicentras (Lamprocapnos spectablis), Aquellegias and Fuscias.

I also have more pots of lily bulbs on top of my cupboard.

What can I say they were on sale and my green fingers started itching when I saw them. Okay there were several other reasons. One being that I wanted to be able to get photos of more plants as well as more varieties within each genus or even species (variations and sub species). Another reason was that having the plant myself would mean that I could be in a better position to photograph it at leisure not to mention manipulate it better and even cut the flowers and or pull the whole plant up to photograph its root structure etc.
Basically owning a plant gives me much greater flexibility, freedom and control over what and how I could photograph it especially if I want to take more detailed photos showing specific characteristics of certain plants. I also wanted to be able to show the planting and growth process.

Then as you can see how things were getting a bit crowd with onion and garlic bulbs, Hostas, Dutch irises and Glorisia lilyies and fuscias e inside which is why it was getting a bit crowded.

On the window sill outside I put some Nasturtiums that I had transplanted from their seeding tray into some planting troughs. I was worried about the cold but the seem to be doing fine so far. The daytime lows are around 10 degrees Celsius which is why due to our fridge being too small for the number of people in our flat, I often put milk outside on those few occasions I buy milk. So far the plants I have decided to risk outside seem to be holding up.

Binomial Name: Saintpaulia

Common names: African Violet (English); Violet African (French); (Samoan); 

Taxonomic hierarchy: 

Kingdom: Plantae - Plants

Subkingdom: Viridaeplantae – Green plants

Infrakingdom: Streptophyta – Land plants

Superdivision: Embryophytea – 
Division: Tracheophyta – Vascular plants, tracheophytes

Subdivision: Spermatophytina – Spermatophytes (seed plants)

Infradivision: Angiospermae – Angiosperms (flowering plants)

Class: Magnoliopsida – Diocotyledons

Superorder: Asteranae – Asterids

Order: Lamiales –

Family: Gesneriaceae – 

Genus: Saintpaulia – 

Species: Saintpaulia inonatha, Saintpaulia rupicola, Saintpaulia brevipilosa

Notes: 

• I am using the taxonomical classification system used by ITIS (Intergrated Taxonomic Information System). I have decided to use this system in order to avoid confusion as well as because it offers a comprehensive hierarchy from kingdom right through to subspecies whereas other sources only go as far as order or  provide the names of some of the higher taxonomical ranks but only indicate "unclassified" rather than providing the rank.
• When and where possible I will endeavour to include alternatives classifications although  I may limit this to occasions where an opportunity arises to discuss the reason for the different classifications.
• Taxonomical data used in this post was retrieved [February 11 2015], from the Integrated Taxonomic Information System on-line database, http://www.itis.gov.

References:

Books:

• 
  

On-line sources:

• Integrated Taxonomic Information System: Entry for Saintpaulia
• Integrated Taxonomic Information System: Entry for Narcissus
• Integrated Taxonomic Information System: Entry for Muscari neglectum
• Integrated Taxonomic Information System: Entry for Begonia
• Integrated Taxonomic Information System: Entry for Lilium
• Integrated Taxonomic Information System: Entry for Iris sibirica
• Integrated Taxonomic Information System: Entry for Dicentras spectablis
• Integrated Taxonomic Information System: Entry for Dicentras spectablis alba
• Integrated Taxonomic Information System: Entry for Aquellegias
• Integrated Taxonomic Information System: Entry for Fuscias.
• Integrated Taxonomic Information System: Entry for
• Integrated Taxonomic Information System: Entry for
• Integrated Taxonomic Information System: Entry for
• Integrated Taxonomic Information System: Entry for
•  
• United States Department of Agriculture: Entry for Celosia argenta L.
• The Plant List: Entry for Celosia
• University of Tennessee Herbarium Entry for Celosia argentea
• 
  
• Texas A & M University: Entry for Celosia (Celosia cristata)
• Missouri Botanical Garden: Entry for Saintpaulia ionatha
• 
  
• Dave's Garden Entry for Celosia
• Grow African Violets
• Wikipedia: Entry for
• Wikipedia: Entry for
• Wikipedia: Entry for
• Wikipedia: Entry for
• Wikipedia: Entry for
• Wikipedia: Entry for Asparagales
• Wikipedia: Entry for Asparagaceae
• Wikipedia: Entry for Amaryllidaceae
• Wikipedia: Entry for Iridaceae
• Wikipedia: Entry for
• Wikipedia: Entry for
• Wikipedia: Entry for Iris sibirica
• Wikipedia: Entry for Lilium
• Wikipedia: Entry for
• Wikipedia: Entry for
• Wikipedia: Entry for
• Wikipedia: Entry for Liliales
• Wikipedia: Entry for Liliaceae
• Wikipedia: Entry for Muscari
• Wikipedia: Entry for Muscari neglectum
• Wikipedia: Entry for
• Wikipedia: Entry for
• Wikipedia: Entry for
• Wikipedia: Entry for
• Wikipedia: Entry for
• Wikipedia: Entry for Saintpaulia
• Wikipedia: Entry for Gesneriaceae
• Wikipedia: Entry for Lamiales
• Wikipedia: Entry for Asterids
• Wikipedia: Entry for Amaranthaceae
• Wikipedia: Entry for Caryophllales

Flora and Fauna - Plants and Critters Blog by Vincent Albert Vermeulen is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

Based on a work at http://plantsandcritters.blogspot.be/.

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My other blogs

· Flora and Fauna - Plants and Critters (on plants, animals as well as gardening, conservation and environmental matters): http://plantsandcritters.blogspot.com/
· The Blood of Souls (language, translation and etymology) : http://thebloodofsouls.blogspot.com/

· Whiskers on Kittens (Life with Kittens and Cats in general) : http://whiskersonkittens-vincent.blogspot.com/

Fort Royal Gardens: # 8 - 2014

As you move away from the pond and the Mirror Sculpture there is an area with shrubs and trees among which I found these plants with white flowers. They look like the pinkish ones further below. I have no idea what they are called.

Then on your way back to the main entrance you will find scatterings of snow bells along the way.

Heading back out the main entrance of the Fort Royal Gardens.


Flora and Fauna - Plants and Critters Blog by Vincent Albert Vermeulen is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.


Based on a work at http://plantsandcritters.blogspot.be/.

Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://plantsandcritters.blogspot.be/.

My other blogs

· Flora and Fauna - Plants and Critters (on plants, animals as well as gardening, conservation and environmental matters): http://plantsandcritters.blogspot.com/
· The Blood of Souls (language, translation and etymology) : http://thebloodofsouls.blogspot.com/

· Whiskers on Kittens (Life with Kittens and Cats in general) : http://whiskersonkittens-vincent.blogspot.com/

Fort Royal Gardens: # 7 - 2014

After you pass the pond you find more crocuses, mainly assorted shades of purple with a scattering of whites and yellows.

Artwork consisting of a maze of mirrored panels in Fort Royal Gardens.

Crocuses reflected in mirrored panels

ThTh

Fort Royal House in background with artwork in foreground

Flora and Fauna - Plants and Critters Blog by Vincent Albert Vermeulen is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

Based on a work at http://plantsandcritters.blogspot.be/.

Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://plantsandcritters.blogspot.be/.

My other blogs

· Flora and Fauna - Plants and Critters (on plants, animals as well as gardening, conservation and environmental matters): http://plantsandcritters.blogspot.com/
· The Blood of Souls (language, translation and etymology) : http://thebloodofsouls.blogspot.com/

· Whiskers on Kittens (Life with Kittens and Cats in general) : http://whiskersonkittens-vincent.blogspot.com/

Fort Royal Gardens: # 5 - 2014

More Daffodils, crocuses, snowdrops and other flowers. These are just around the pond which did not have much to look at given that it is winter other than some vegetation that I was unable to identify. I assume that there are water-lilies after all what is a garden pond without water-lilies or  lotuses.

Daffodils by the pond in Fort Royal Gardens, Bristol, United Kingdom

In beds around the pond were assorted daffodils (but a miniature variety) as well as snowdrops and some other plants that I have yet to identify.

Daffodils by the pond in Fort Royal Gardens, Bristol, United Kingdom

Interestingly Daffodils and Snowdrops not only belong to the same Order: Asparagales and Family: Amaryllidaceae but to the same Subfamily: Amaryllidoideae, as well.

Daffodils by the pond in Fort Royal Gardens, Bristol, United Kingdom

Daffodils by the pond in Fort Royal Gardens, Bristol, United Kingdom

Daffodils by the pond in Fort Royal Gardens, Bristol, United Kingdom

Daffodils and Snowdrops with other unknown plants by the pond in Fort Royal Gardens, Bristol, United Kingdom

Snowdrops and Unknown plants by the pond in Fort Royal Gardens, Bristol, United Kingdom

Daffodils and Snowdrops with Unidentified plants by the pond in Fort Royal Gardens, Bristol, United Kingdom

Daffodils by the pond in Fort Royal Gardens, Bristol, United Kingdom

Flora and Fauna - Plants and Critters Blog by Vincent Albert Vermeulen is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

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My other blogs

· Flora and Fauna - Plants and Critters (on plants, animals as well as gardening, conservation and environmental matters): http://plantsandcritters.blogspot.com/
· The Blood of Souls (language, translation and etymology) : http://thebloodofsouls.blogspot.com/

· Whiskers on Kittens (Life with Kittens and Cats in general) : http://whiskersonkittens-vincent.blogspot.com/

Fort Royal Gardens: # 4 - 2014

The clouds had been whisked away by the time I took these photos. Plus it was behind me so I did not have any problems setting up these photos other than trying to get the angle right for the close ups. I always find it strange how people complain that the skies in Europe are grey. I guess they just never notice how often they are actually blue.

Daffodils on the hillside below wooden bench with Fort Royal House in the background in Fort Royal Gardens, Brsitol

Flora and Fauna - Plants and Critters Blog by Vincent Albert Vermeulen is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

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My other blogs

· Flora and Fauna - Plants and Critters (on plants, animals as well as gardening, conservation and environmental matters): http://plantsandcritters.blogspot.com/
· The Blood of Souls (language, translation and etymology) : http://thebloodofsouls.blogspot.com/

· Whiskers on Kittens (Life with Kittens and Cats in general) : http://whiskersonkittens-vincent.blogspot.com/

Royal Fort Gardens: #3 - 2014

Daffodils in the Fort Royal Gardens, Bristol 2014

After coming down the footpath from Fort Royal House, if you turn right at the fork and go past the mass of Crocuses you come to a wide green lawn that slopes up into a hill on the right and down into a pond in the centre with a footpath along the left which runs along the boarder of the garden buffered from the wall that runs along the boundary with more vegetation.

Fort Royal Gardens, Bristol 2014

 Since most of the photographs I take are outdoors I tend to work exclusively with natural light which can make for interesting shots especially when there are clouds or the light changes suddenly. Sometimes I visit the same place more than once in order to get different light while on other occasions the light changes within minutes which can be either good or bad depending on the situation. The photos above and below were taken within minutes of each other.

Fort Royal Gardens, Bristol 2014

 I know I need to learn more about the various functions on the camera and probably experiment with shutter speeds and all the other things I can do, not to mention editing photos beyond resizing and cropping, but for now this is all I am able to do.

Daffodils in the Fort Royal Gardens, Bristol 2014

 If you look closely in the midst of the daffodils is a clump of purple corcuses.

Daffodils in the Fort Royal Gardens, Bristol 2014

 When I first came through this part of the garden it was kind of boring with just the bench over looking the lawn but now that the Daffodils and crocuses have emerged clothing the hillside in thier glorious colours it is very nice especially when the sun comes out.

Daffodils in the Fort Royal Gardens, Bristol 2014

Daffodils in the Fort Royal Gardens, Bristol 2014

Flora and Fauna - Plants and Critters Blog by Vincent Albert Vermeulen is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

Based on a work at http://plantsandcritters.blogspot.be/.

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My other blogs

· Flora and Fauna - Plants and Critters (on plants, animals as well as gardening, conservation and environmental matters): http://plantsandcritters.blogspot.com/
· The Blood of Souls (language, translation and etymology) : http://thebloodofsouls.blogspot.com/

· Whiskers on Kittens (Life with Kittens and Cats in general) : http://whiskersonkittens-vincent.blogspot.com/

Flowers by the Physics Building: Part 3

Here are some more pictures of the flowers by the Physics Building at the University of Bristol.

The crocuses are a mixture of brilliant yellows, pure whites, lavenders, purples and pale blues. And then there were a scattering of these astoundingly delightful ones which I am not sure are crocuses or not. I was actually trying to get a decent Macro photo showing the stamen inside but could not quite manage it. My camera vetoed my selection and decided that showing the  stippling on the leaves was more interesting.
The zoom is automatic and I have noticed that so sometimes it takes me several tries before the camera zooms on what I want it to zoom on. For some reason it sometimes decides I am focusing on something else often giving me a tantalizing macro view of what I actually do want it to focus on before settling on some other focal point. I am saving up for a proper camera with detachable lenses that require manual adjustment since this will not only give me greater range but give me greater control. But ... well for now I still need to learn a lot more on how to use the functions that I do have.

 

Flora and Fauna - Plants and Critters Blog by Vincent Albert Vermeulen is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

Based on a work at http://plantsandcritters.blogspot.be/.

Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://plantsandcritters.blogspot.be/.

My other blogs

· Flora and Fauna - Plants and Critters (on plants, animals as well as gardening, conservation and environmental matters): http://plantsandcritters.blogspot.com/
· The Blood of Souls (language, translation and etymology) : http://thebloodofsouls.blogspot.com/

· Whiskers on Kittens (Life with Kittens and Cats in general) : http://whiskersonkittens-vincent.blogspot.com/

Royal Fort Gradens: # 1 - 2014

Flora and Fauna - Plants and Critters Blog by Vincent Albert Vermeulen is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

Based on a work at http://plantsandcritters.blogspot.be/.

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My other blogs

· Flora and Fauna - Plants and Critters (on plants, animals as well as gardening, conservation and environmental matters): http://plantsandcritters.blogspot.com/
· The Blood of Souls (language, translation and etymology) : http://thebloodofsouls.blogspot.com/

· Whiskers on Kittens (Life with Kittens and Cats in general) : http://whiskersonkittens-vincent.blogspot.com/

Crocuses in front of Royal Fort Lodge

The crocuses are flowering.

Crocuses

Flora and Fauna - Plants and Critters Blog by Vincent Albert Vermeulen is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.


Based on a work at http://plantsandcritters.blogspot.be/.

Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://plantsandcritters.blogspot.be/.

My other blogs

· Flora and Fauna - Plants and Critters (on plants, animals as well as gardening, conservation and environmental matters): http://plantsandcritters.blogspot.com/

· The Blood of Souls (language, translation and etymology) : http://thebloodofsouls.blogspot.com/

· Whiskers on Kittens (Life with Kittens and Cats in general) : http://whiskersonkittens-vincent.blogspot.com/