Budding Protea

Queen Protea bud. Named for the Greek god, Proteus who was able to shift shape.

OK, here is the open flower… Amazing stuff!

Hey, bud!

I am endlessly fascinated by the palm tree. Though it is pretty standard in warm climates, I originated from a very cold climate and rarely saw an actual palm other than on television. And come to think of it, since we didn’t get a TV until I was 14 and my brother refused to let anyone else watch without his permission (he kept a loaded BB gun on his lap to enforce this policy) I’m not sure I saw any there, either. Other than a couple of forays to Florida, which involved more theme parks and contrived attractions than actually exploring the landscape, I didn’t really get up close and personal with a palm until I arrived in New Zealand.

The first time I saw a bloom, it was laying on the ground and I could not figure out what it was or where it came from. Later I saw them sprouting from the sides of the trunk and made the connection. This here is a bud in the late afternoon sun. It’s rather enormous, at least half a metre (20 inches). I just love everything about it…