Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Chinese Lantern

I can never remember the name of these semi-tropical flowers, but they really are quite pretty. This one was growing in the ENMAX Conservatory at the Calgary Zoo, before the tropical plants were replaced by an autumn plant display in the butterfly room. Thanks Suzie (Kazooze) for the ID - much appreciated! This is an Abutilon (Abutilon x hybridum). Common names include Flowering Maple, Chinese Bell Flower and Chinese Lantern. "It is a popular group of hybrids that are semi-tropical, frost-tender shrubs typically growing 2–3 m tall. The lantern-like buds open to solitary, pendulous, bell- to cup-shaped flowers to 8 cm diameter with five overlapping petals and significant staminal columns typical of the mallow family. Flowers come in red, pink, yellow, white and pastel shades. Lobed, maple-like, light green leaves are often variegated with white and yellow." From Wikipedia. We have been going through a deep-freeze the last few days, with still a few more to go before things improve. Last night, it was -27C (-17F) and, though we can get temperatures colder than that, this is plenty cold enough for me! The day before yesterday, the snow on the roads was turning to ice, which makes driving so treacherous. Not my favourite thing, but what do you do? Tonight, it's -26C (windchill -36C!).

This needed to be posted today, as our world is white. An amazing hoar frost has covered everything, turning everywhere into a winter wonderland. Unfortunately, the sky has been dull gey and the light has been dreadful all day. However, I decided to drive some of the backroads south of 22X this afternoon - just got home - but I haven't gone through my photos yet. I'm hoping that at least one photo will turn out OK, despite the awful light. This Chinese Lantern has yet to turn bright orange, but I thought it was quite pretty in this mid-stage, too. This species of plant was, in fact, first discovered in Japan. Seen at the Reader Rock Garden at the end of September.

I was thrilled to find two or three of these hanging Chinese Lanterns growing at the Reader Rock Garden the other day. I have loved these for many years, but normally I never see them. "Popular for the papery bright-orange lantern pods that develop around the ripening fruit, these are often cut and used for Thanksgiving and Halloween arrangements. Plants are aggressive spreaders, and best kept out of the perennial border so they don't take over. Also can be grown in tubs. Small white flowers appear in midsummer, over a bushy mound of coarse green leaves. Pods are green at first, but should be harvested as soon as the orange colour develops, the leaves stripped then stems hung upside down to dry in a warm dark room." From www.perennials.com .