Strelitzia regina

Today's the day ....................... for a touch of the exotic

There are four flowers on Roma's Strelitzia regina plant this year

Also known as the Bird-of-paradise plant, it was first introduced into Britain in 1773 by Sir Joseph Banks at the Royal Gardens at Kew.  He named the plant Strelitzia in honour of Queen Charlotte, wife of George III and Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, who lived at Kew for many years.

The exotic flowers consist of three brilliant orange sepals and three vividly blue petals. Two of the blue petals are joined together to form an arrow-like nectary. They are pollinated by sunbirds who sit to drink the nectar and then get their feet covered in pollen.  They carry it off on to the next plant  - and so the cycle goes on.

On this Hogmanay night, can I wish you all good things for 2016?  May you achieve all that you hope for and - may your feet get covered in metaphorical pollen as you sip the nectar of life...........................