Mandevilla
Understand they're from the Apocynaceae family, commonly known as the Dogbane family, from when they were used as dog poison. (Why you would do that in the first place is another matter.)
Think this one might be a Mandevilla sanderi - but as ever, stand to be corrected - which is endemic to Brazil. I'd hazard a guess that that's why it's commonly known as Brazilian jasmine in some regions - but not hereabouts, I'm pleased to report.
Amateurs like me sometimes photograph the flower from the top, looking down towards the bottom of its 'trumpet'; but get a bit miffed when the lighter, more transparent colouring at the bottom of said trumpet makes a small circle of bright light at the back, and throws your contrast and exposure into a tailspin.
To avoid this problem, wiser heads (and once-burnt amateurs) try to frame it from the side, revealing the long, smooth body of the flower, ending in a rather impressive flourish of flared, brightly coloured petals.
These plants are perennials, can grow quite well in a range of conditions and soils, can survive ok in a drought, and are reasonably easy to maintain - especially if you can find a sunny, partly sheltered position for them. However, the merest hint of a decent frost is sometimes enough for them to curl up their toes, so a little vigilance is required in the colder months.
In all the other months, they steadfastly put on a flamboyant display of eye-catching blooms, which for me far outweighs any nagging concerns about frost.
- 2
- 0
- Olympus E-M1MarkII
- 1/100
- f/10.0
- 60mm
- 500
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