Magnolia grandiflora, named after French botanist Pierre Magnol. Here growing in cultivation in West Fairmount Park, Philadelphia. Native range in the south eastern United States.
Magnolia grandiflora in full bloom, June 18, 2017
June 20th, 2017
Prickly Pear cactus blooming in cultivation
June 15th, 2017This native cactus is growing on our third floor balcony in the Philadelphia house. From time to time it will drop a segment and we will put it in a new container with some sand in a little bit of soil hopefully to mimic the way it grows along the Jersey shore . Then a new cactus will grow. Now it is flowering abundantly!
Having the cactus on this balcony is a strategic move. We wanted a plant that was basically zero maintenance. The balcony gets plenty of sun and other plants have proven to not survive without regular watering.
Iris versicolor at Concourse Lake, Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, June 3rd, 2017
June 3rd, 2017This is flowering in our back yard, in our urban vacant lot turned native plant garden, and at the native plant park in our neighborhood, as well as in the parking lot of the Please Touch Museum, also in our neighborhood. Enjoying it while it is here for this fleeting moment. Now thinking about collecting some seeds from our specimens and propagating this wonderful native species of Iris!
