Tuesday, February 26, 2013

ABC Wednesday; February 27th, 2013

The letter this week is the Great G

G is for Gypsophila, 'a genus of about 100 species of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, native to Europe, Asia and North Africa'  (Google)

But today we will consider only one species that is familiar to all, - Gypsophila Paniculata, or Baby's Breath.

What would the florist industry ever do without these wonderful clouds of tiny white flowers to enhance their bouquets?


Inclined to be invasive Baby's Breath grows famously on  dry, sandy, stony soil, and there is a portion of the highway between Keremeos and Olalla where at certain times of the year the roadside ditches are filled with these beautiful white fairy flowers, escaped from an abandoned commercial enterprise on adjoining fields.



One of our sons has a most prolific patch  of four foot high gypsophila perfectly content to be growing in the dry soil up against his steel plant,  always available for quick bouquets, either fresh or dried.
 
My favourites are the Bristol Fairy


 
and the lovely double pink Rosenschleier

 
The pictures are all borrowed from the Internet,  alas 
 
For more Great Gs click here to visit ABC Wednesday.
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Roger!

11 comments:

Carver said...

Great shots and perfect for G day. Carver, ABC Wed. Team

carol l mckenna said...

Magnificent floral shots for G ~ beautiful! ^_^

Reader Wil said...

You are a true expert in the field of flowers! Thank you for these beautiful pictures.

photowannabe said...

Bouquets would be rather naked with out Baby's Breath. I never saw it growing in such huge bushes before.

Roger Owen Green said...

a beautiful flower
ROG, ABC Wednesday team

uberrhund said...

That Double Pink variety is really pretty!
I have to tell you while brushing my teeth before bed last night I thought " OOO I wonder what Hildred's G flower will be tomorrow? maybe a Gazania daisy?"
So this was a very nice surprise!

uberrhund said...

I would love to get myself that far North someday Hildred but far away travel is not going to happen for me in the foreseeable future, little bit expensive right now!
I Do love to see the things other people have saved and cherished,even an old oil tin in the garage can be cherished by it's keeper. Talking to people, like you, gives these "things" a story and brings them life. I am sure the things Charles and his father kept around have stories all their own!
Dealing in Antiques and Vintage is hard work some days,smelly dirty work others but it is always rewarding!

The Weaver of Grass said...

Beautiful Hildred - I have never seen it growing wild before although we do have it in some gardens here. People tend to pull it up because it is invasive, but it does last in water and compliments roses beautifully I think.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

I'm loving your flower collection (and did I say already that you should make a book after the "Z" one?).

I don't know if I ever knew the real name for baby's breath.
Now that I think of it, I remember it grew rampantly when we lived in dry Eastern Washington and I don't remember it at all from our Oregon gardening years.

Chubskulit Rose said...

Baby's breath are beautiful!

Gums and Gummies
Rose, ABC Wednesday Team.

Leslie: said...

Oh, it's GORGEOUS!

Leslie
abcw team