In a Vase on Monday: Strange But Wonderful!

5/21/2018

I have a little something unusual this week, and although it's not officially "in a vase" I just had to share it! Those of you who have been following my blog regularly lately will know that I am nuts about this plant. The flowers of the Castor Bean are usually described as "insignificant", but I think they are incredibly beautiful, if a bit strange! The male and female flowers are born on the same stem, and as you can see, their appearances are distinctly different. The male flowers look like tiny cauliflowers and scatter pollen at the lightest touch (they are wind pollinated), and the female flowers look like little starfish or some other sea creature! One of my plants is also starting to form seed pods. Hopefully I will be able to get them out of the greenhouse and into the garden SOON! :D

I always find myself looking forward to Mondays, when gardeners around the world share their beautiful flowers (and vases!) at Rambling in the Garden. I hope you'll enjoy it too, and have a great week!

26 Comments

Susie link

5/21/2018 07:48:31 am

Amazing nature. Lovely photos.

Joanna link

5/22/2018 01:44:39 pm

Thank you, Susie! :)

Peter link

5/21/2018 10:26:32 am

Wonderful and blooms. I love everything about this plant - even it's seeds are interesting.

5/22/2018 01:47:27 pm

This is my first time growing it and I also love everything about it! Such a beautiful and stunning plant!

Ciar link

5/21/2018 10:40:51 am

Love your description of little male cauliflowers and female pink starfish - it’s spot on!

5/22/2018 01:48:44 pm

I'm usually at a loss to find the right word for comparisons, but this one was easy! :)

Ali, The Mindful Gardener link

5/21/2018 11:01:04 am

They do look like sea creatures! Fascinating, and fab photos.

5/22/2018 09:34:05 pm

They do look like they could be found in a beautiful coral reef don't they? :)

Cathy link

5/21/2018 12:35:08 pm

See, no vase necessary! One of the joys of IAVOM is being able to study things from our garden close up when we bring them inside, and this is exactly what you are allowing us to do here, so thanks for sharing

5/22/2018 09:34:59 pm

So very gracious of you, Cathy! I really enjoyed sharing them. IAVOM is wonderful! :)

Donna@GardensEyeView link

5/21/2018 01:51:22 pm

This is a wonderful flower I don't usually see!

5/22/2018 09:35:58 pm

I've never seen it in gardens around here, either. Maybe it's just too cold...we'll find out soon, I guess!

Eliza link

5/21/2018 02:15:55 pm

Great macro shots, Joanna. It pays to scrutinize, as you never know what wonders you will uncover. :)

5/22/2018 09:36:34 pm

Thank you! I had a lot of fun photographing them! :D

Kris P link

5/21/2018 02:34:51 pm

I've never seen the flowers as they evolve. Very interesting! The plants grow widely along the roads in my area and I've been tempted to plant one in my own garden but I worry that my silly cat will poison herself.

5/22/2018 09:38:04 pm

Oh wow, that is something I'd love to see! I knew that it had naturalized in the tropics, but didn't realize it had in this country too! I can definitely understand your concern for your kitty, though!

Glenda Webster

5/21/2018 04:54:39 pm

Thanks for a very informative posting. I grew castor beans at the back of the garden for years, but I don't think I ever really looked at the flowers. Supposedly the beans were used to poison moles and other vermin,

5/22/2018 09:39:25 pm

I'm glad you enjoyed it! :) The flowers are small, so not that striking from a distance, but stunning when viewed close-up!

AlisonC link

5/22/2018 02:29:04 am

What wonderful pictures of all the detail. I love that we gardeners always have our eyes to the ground and notice these things.

5/23/2018 02:09:50 pm

I love to look at flowers close-up...there is so much beauty to be seen in them! :)

Terri Robertson link

5/22/2018 09:26:10 am

How beautiful, and not insignificant at all. Thank you for introducing me to Castor Bean flowers...they are fascinating.

5/23/2018 02:11:46 pm

I saw them for the first time last summer at Monticello and decided there and then that I had to have them. Everything about the plants is fascinating! :)

5/22/2018 03:47:37 pm

Great pictures of the flowers. I have grown these a couple of times too, and always found the flowers absolutely amazing, as well as the beautiful big glossy leaves. :)

5/23/2018 02:13:45 pm

Oh I can just picture them in your garden, Cathy! They are such stunning plants! :)

Jason link

5/23/2018 01:47:00 pm

I've never grown Castor Bean, maybe I should give it a try. You're right about the similarity to cauliflower!

5/23/2018 02:16:53 pm

It has to be one of the easiest plants to grow...the only challenge so far is keeping them from outgrowing their containers!

In a Vase on Monday: Strange But Wonderful!

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