Orange-y Flowery Goodness

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Orange is such a warm color - just the right one to set the mood for fall in the northern hemisphere. Thanks to everyone for sending in their orange flowers! Here's what we have for you!

Asha, an avid gardener in Bangalore, India, sent pictures of her luscious container garden.


Ixora

There are about 400 species spread from Africa to India to Southern Asia!


 Stictocardia tiliifolia

This uncommon species is a tropical vine related to the Ipomoea or Morning glory. Its beautiful funnel-form flowers are large and brightly colored in reddish orange with some yellow stripes in the throat.

Soma found these orange beauties on her jaunts:


Jointvetches
The above orange flower is Aeschynomene genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae (Legumes/Pea/Bean). They are known commonly as Jointvetches. These legumes are most common in warm regions and many species are aquatic.  These were growing wild in the Dinosaur Valley Park, Glen Rose, Texas. There are over 100 species found of the Aeschynomene.


Orange poppy

Soma saw this deep orange poppy at the Dallas Arboretum.

Sailu sends in this lovely flower with some cultural tidbits:


 Firecracker

Kanakambaram is a tropical shrub that is usually grown in pots. It has small fragile orange flowers also known as Firecracker. With no fragrance, these tiny flowers are often strung together into strands, sometimes along with white jasmine flowers. In most cities in Southern India, especially near temples and street corners, you will find flower vendors, busy stringing together these flowers into garlands that are offered to temple deities as well as adorn women’s hair.

Botanical Name: Crossandra infundibuliformis

Shilpa sends in the view from her window - what a lucky girl!


Gulmohar

Gulmohar is from the Fabaceae family and flowers from April to July. It is grown as a street tree mainly for its ornamental properties. An Indian summer is incomplete without the flamboyant flowers.

Manisha found an orange flower when she traipsed through the Utah desert:

Globe mallow

She came across these bright flowers in Utah's Arches National Park last year. They are called Desert Globe Mallow and belong to the Malvaceae family. The botanical name for this globe mallow is Sphaeralcea coccinea. It can be found in semi-desert and arid regions.

Raji goes on hikes in search of flowers!

California Poppies


She times her hikes so that she can catch them in full bloom. She often sees a bed poppies on either side as she hikes! 
Botanical name: Eschscholzia californica


Orange lantana

Sometimes she finds them on her walks during her lunch hour.
Botanical name: Lantana camara
  
Thanks to everyone for sending in their orange flowers and I hope you stay tuned for the next color, the announcement will be coming up soon!


Orange you glad it's a new color?

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The colour orange is named after the orange fruit, introduced to Europe via the Sanskrit word nāranja. Before this was introduced to the English-speaking world, the colour was referred to (in Old English) as geoluhread, which translates into Modern English as yellow-red.

Color: Orange (no browns)
Entries per blog: 2
Deadline: September 25, 2009
Directions:
  1. Write a post on your blog with a picture of your orange flower and link to this announcement in your post.
  2. Your orange flower must be identified using its botanical name or common name. Either will do. Both is terrific! If you need help identifying your flowers, upload a picture to your Flickr account and send it to the group ID Please asking for help.
  3. Paint, sketch, doodle, photograph. The choice is yours.
  4. Please include the Flower Fest logo in your post. You can download it by clicking here. (We also have a .gif with a transparent background, if you would prefer to use that. This does not render well on dark backgrounds.)
  5. Then, drop us an email at flowerfestival [at] gmail [dot] com with the following information:
    • Your name / nickname / blogger handle
    • A permanent link to your post with a picture of the flower
    • Do this before September 25, 2009.
  6. A round-up will be posted within a couple of days after the deadline.
  7. Not a blogger? No worries. Send an email with your picture to flowerfestival[at]gmail[dot]com. Don't forget to include the name of your flower, botanical or common, and we'll include it in the round-up.
Looking forward to your orange entries!