Kyoto botanical garden

Some more pics from the kyoto botanical gardens. First , hydrangeas from the hydrangea park and then the mandatory residents of a conservatory.

This particular hydrangea , if I am not mistaken , is also called popcorn hydrangea because of the apperance of the bunch. The small blooms look really pretty.

No blooms on this baby yet. just the buds , but a fly definitely finds them attractive.

Some more of those pretty buds.

I liked the serrated edge of the petals on these flowers. They present quite a contrast from the smooth blooms normally observed.

These blushing pink blooms have more petals than the normal 5 observed on each flower. They also have multiple layers, again something different from what is normally observed.

View of the conservatory- I am afraid its only a partial one. The entire structure could not fit into the frame and this was the best one of the lot I took.

A macro shot that could have been better.

A smaller cousin of this particular plant was a resident in my friend's place. It gave me the heebie jeebies when I visited and it did scare me a bit even when I was in the conservatory. It looks like its itching to get its fingers on any passer by. Needless to say, I did not linger long.

A conservatory without a pitcher plant. No can happen.

These bamboo plants or maybe bamboo cousins have something nifty going on , on their stems.

Have a look

And thats a pretty head

Hanging from this palm

Hibiscus may be . Loved its petals. By this point, my camera had fogged up because of first the rain and then the moisture in the conservatory. I had to take of the lens and wipe it properly and I did not dare to even touch the mirror.

And here's the surprise of the day. A chocolate tree. That's theobroma cacao or the food of the gods. I attest to that fact. Chocolate sure is divine.

A flower in the cactus section . A small head on a really thin long stalk. Pretty in red.

An orchid maybe

An orchid definitely

And another one

And another one

More orchids, but these were outside the conservatory and in a small section by themselves. I must say I wasn't much impressed by the selection here. I definitely expected more.

I have a lighter cousin of this one at home. Unfortunately I can't get it to rebloom. any tips

And at the end, a rafflesia bloom in a glass case. This baby is huge and is reputed to be pollinated by elephants. Thats just a myth though. It smells of rotten meat and elephants being vegetarian won't venture anywhere near it. This flower is pollinated by flies.