Winter Daisy

10th June, early morning

Join me as we trace the slow opening of another Australian native - the everlasting/paper/straw daisy. This native will likely be more well known to those outside Australia than the banksia and grevilleas I have shown to date.

8th June, mid morning

These are best grown spring through autumn in a sunny spot, well drained/sandy soil. January 18th this year marked the tentative beginning of my blogging journey. That day I took these photos of everlasting daisies which were thriving in the heat of our Australian summer, close to where the daisy above is now growing. I planted the current daisy as a seedling in Autumn, in a damper spot which receives little sun during winter. Such a little battler, this plant struggled on, brightening a dull spot in our yard despite the adverse circumstances.

10th June, midday. A few hours after the first photo, top of post.

These photos cover a seven week time span. Each night the daisy would close tightly shut, repeating a slow opening as the sunshine gradually reached this spot in the garden for a short time in the middle of the day. Some days were cloudy and wet, some even frosty.

11th June, later afternoon.

There is an eight day gap between the rich, luscious flower photographed above and the somewhat desiccated photo of the same flower below. I'm guessing this must have been when the weather turned noticeably colder and dry. The next three photos were taken on the same day.

19th June

19th June

19th June

 Three more days pass......

22nd June

Another three days......

25th June

Eleven days more......

6th July

6th July

18 days later....... brings us to now.

24th July

25th July

24th July

Still marvellously beautiful in it's own way. This really shows the proper flowers as the pink "petals" are not true petals, but rather bracts, or leaf like structures, as is the case generally with all daisies.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing the progression of this flower. I have really enjoyed watching it's beauty  slowly changing and developing over the weeks. These plants only last a few months however the flowers can be picked and dried (upside down), then lasting for years. The original wild everlasting daisies are apparently perennials and mostly have yellow flowers.

Update: I have now completed a new photo series highlighting the daily opening of the daisies.

Sharing at Macro Monday,  The Creative Exchange,  Communal Global,  Sweet Shot Tuesday,
  Good Life Wednesday,  Simple Pleasures, Photo Story Friday, In The Studio
 and Weekend Flowers (voted third place).