Tracking a king protea over the summer months proved to be a ‘blooming’ experience. From tightly coiled bud to a magnificent showpiece took nine weeks. The bush had a total of six buds, but only one made it through the process. The last shot shows some of the intricate inner structure, and it’s attractive larder of pollen.
The post is another sequence in response to the WPC: Threes.
Nature on the Edge 
As you get closer, it becomes more beautiful 🙂
Yes, it’s an amazingly complex flower… close up reveals a whole plethora of pollen making equipment 🙂
Beautiful shots. The protea is such a hardy, yet beautiful, flower.
Yes, it’s form is really something to marvel over. The complexity of the inner workings fascinates me… i have a dried example waiting for a bit of macro detail.
A real wow, i love it.
Thanks Gilly, this one’s a variant, not the usual silky covered bracks, rather waxy instead. Something tucked into the other blooms – buck / baboon? Would love to catch the snackers red handed.
Gorgeous shots for the challenge, Liz. 🙂 The Protea is such an amazing plant.
Thanks Sylvia, it is that for sure 🙂 I’m always amazed at it’s size and weight.
This is a lovely plant. I see it in the Great Glasshouse at our National Botanic Garden of Wales.
Glad to read that they grow in glass houses as they can be picky about aspect, etc. Chuffed to have read that there are 80 variants in the king protea species.
Hi Liz, this was a king proteus in the Botanic garden http://pilipala51.wordpress.com/?s=proteus
One of my favorite flowers, you captured it perfectly Liz!
magic!
Thanks Alois 🙂 They’re are indeed!