Growing Wild and Free

Blanketing the headland on our recent seaside holiday are these Golden Everlastings (Xerochrysum Bracteatum).
The flower is similar to the multi-coloured ones I grow in our home garden but the structure of the plant is rather different. The headland form has broad glossy leaves and stands only 20cm/8" high with the single flower heads raised slightly higher. Their bright yellow flowers dotted the headland, shining golden in the late afternoon light.

Can you see the single yellow flower facing seaward in the foreground? I can almost feel the fresh sea winds blowing.....

Growing in a slightly more sheltered spot on the headland I found these delightful little flowers - above in early morning light and below at dusk. These are commonly known as Beach Beans or Sword Beans, presumably due to the shape of their large seed pods which you can see developing below. Their scientific name is Canavalia Rosea.

A tiny flower braving the windswept headland, I don't know the name of this one.

In the bright morning light I had one last look around this headland. To my delight I was able to watch a Whistling Kite flying and preening as I snapped away. "Wild and Free" definitely applies to these large birds.

While the Whistling Kite soared overhead, bees buzzed amongst the Angular Pigface flowers, also known as Coastal Noonflower.

I love that we can each grow our choice of flowers in our own gardens yet there is a wonderful range of native plants which continue to flower and spread without help at all from any man, spreading beauty in each and every place we go.

Sharing at This or That Thursday, SkyWatch Friday, Saturday Sareenity, Weekend Flowers.