This beautiful tree is Colville's Glory Colvillea racemosa. It has similar foliage to jacarandas and poinciana, and it is simply divine. I spotted this one with another close by in the corner of the local bus depot.
I had to go a little further afield for my other tropical beauty: 'overseas', in fact. I should also mention that I seem to be a little jinxed on my outings to the coast lately. Despite our incredibly dry November and December, it rained on my visit to Ballina at Christmas and, ironically, to the so-called 'Sunshine' Coast the following fortnight. Ditto for my first visit to Macleay Island.
Macleay Island is located in Moreton Bay and is accessed via ferry from Redland Bay, about a 40 minute drive from the centre of Brisbane. The ferry takes about 15 minutes and calls in at some of the other picturesque bay islands en route.
I was a little early to meet up with friends for a picnic, so I had a brief reconnoitre and found this Rangoon Creeper Quisqualis indica clambering over a frangipani that was growing roadside.
This lovely creeper has hanging clusters of scented flowers that open white and age to pink and red with all the colours appearing at the same time like a Brunfelsia (Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow). I have read that there is also a double variety, but I haven't been lucky enough to see that other than in photos.
Both gorgeous. I have heard of Rangoon Creeper - it looks lovely, but that Colvillea is amazing!
ReplyDeleteIt is stunning, isn't it. Strangely, they don't seem to be as widely planted as they deserve to be, and there's no room to squeeze one in here. Perhaps, another birthday idea for my brother. His big garden serves as surrogate for lots of plants I love, but that don't work here for one reason or another.
ReplyDeleteDear Marisa; you featured two of my favourites. Since I saw a Colvillia flowering at my shopping center in Elanora I had to plant one! the Quiscalis an old time fave. Many people who spotted it in my garden wanted a cutting! So, the plants go around and are a pleasure to many more. Lovely places in A. Beautiful when they are not over serviced! Ciao T♥
ReplyDeleteI think the way plants are shared around is one of the nicest things about gardening. My leopard lily started with a dear friend about 20 years ago, who gave to a friend, who gave it to me, who gave it to my brother, and then I got it back from him again when I moved to this house!
ReplyDeleteMarisa, I love the way the sky looks in the boating photos. Clouds are very interesting. It is also really fun to see all the tropical plants. I’m so glad I found your blog!
ReplyDeleteThanks Lucy. I can't believe I have only been blogging for 8 or 9 months. I've have 'met' so many lovely people though their comments, discovered such interesting blogs, and visited wonderful gardens through them.
DeleteI love going on walks through my area. It was established in the 1800s so you can imagine the gardens have been through every type of garden fashion you can imagine - and you can often see plants that are rare or unusual.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like your area offers the same opportunity.
I'd definitely love to amble through your neighbourhood. Many Brisbane folk don't do much in the way of gardens, but a house with only a dry patch of lawn will often have a fabulous tropical flowering tree. I spotted a great Pink Cassia on my way back from the supermarket a week ago and will post photos of it soon.
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