Thursday, April 10, 2014

Ruellia Elegans and Sunbirds

The various flowering plants in the garden are a great source of delight as they bring in the birds. The easy to plant Ruellia elegans is one such plant. They bloom year round and the birds visit daily. Any time that I step out into the garden, there would be avian activities to amuse me.

I saw this cluster of red Ruellia elegans flowers bobbing up and down and sure enough a sunbird was busy nectaring.

 
 
It sipped with its fine curved beak, while at the same time looking up intermittently to watch out for signs of danger.


At the slightest sound, it flew off to secure perches, but returned soon after.

 
  The bud with fine silvery hairs.

 
 
The pretty bloom.

 
 
 
It dropped of after two to three days, but still attached to the plant through a fine filament of the reproductive system.
  
 
After the flower had completely detached.

 
 Ruellia elegans and Tecoma stans.

Thanks to Andrea of Kalantikan, Ruellia is spelt without the 's'. I've make the correction.


12 comments:

  1. An aptly named flower, and how lovely is the sunbird.

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    Replies
    1. Sunbirds are like lovely ornaments to the garden.

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  2. what lovely feathers..so colorful

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    Replies
    1. When they fly around, flashes of yellow and blue brighthen up the garden.

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  3. Love the bird and the blooms. Moment by moment. Good captured.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Normala. Sunbirds are such amazing subjects for photogaphy.

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  4. I have not seen this plant before and its flowers remind me decorative tobacco flowers.The birds are beautiful with their beaks and bright black heads!

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    Replies
    1. This plant is extremely easy to grow as it roots easily. The feathers on its head is actually irridescent bluish black for the males.

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  5. Beautiful photos! You managed to capture the bird "in action"!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks. The birds are always in action so it is easy to capture them anyway :)

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  6. Lovely capture of the sunbird, my zoom cannot take them that big. That flower i am not familiar, is it really Ruellias or Ruellia?

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  7. Thanks Andrea. It is Ruellia without the 's'. If I've inadvertently added it, then it must be due to carelessness and laziness on my part ;)

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