Nightjar has submitted absolutely gorgeous Bougainvillea pictures with a short story with a question at the end. To which my answer is YES.
I let Nightjar take from here:
Last week as I looked through the window I saw a lady that lives a few streets away from me pointing her phone at my front door, as if taking a picture. I was confused at first, but then I realised what was likely going on. Our Bougainvillea is putting on quite a show this year, hanging from the balcony and almost completely covering our front door in a ridiculous abundance of pink. In fact, there is no way she was taking a photo of anything else, because everything else is under that pink cover. So later that day, I decided to go out and take a few pictures myself. Now let me ask you, if you were passing by my house and saw this, wouldn’t you be tempted to stop for a few shots too?
©Nighjar, all rights reserved. Click for full size.
I love that last one. How big is the bougainvillea over all and how old?
Glorious! What a magnificent show it’s putting one. Oh, I would definitely stop and take photos. And it must be so wonderful to walk out under that every day!
Oh how much I love them. Mine needs to be carted inside for the winter and then it’s thoughts and prayers.
I think I’d be tempted.
I’ve said it before and I’m saying it again. Bougainvillea is called ihmeköynnös (miracle vine, köynnös* = vine). These pictures justify the name.
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* = words related to köynnös: köysi = rope, köyttää = to tie with a rope
Yes. It’s glorious, especially like the backlit view looking out. My cold Canadian garden has envy.
jazzlet, I’m not sure I can answer your question! I don’t know how old it is, my guess would be approximately 15 years. The first photo shows most of it, it is maybe about 4 meters tall and about the same wide. It would be much bigger if we didn’t prune it heavily every year, we cut ALL the branches except the ones twined around the balcony fence and we don’t let it invade the stairs (though it tries, see first photo at right). Pruning is absolutely necessary, the other plants need sunlight too. The bougainvillea doesn’t seem to suffer as a result, it grows back every year.
kestrel, indeed it is! It has thorns, though, so we must be careful with our heads! :D
Giliell, oh gods. That sounds like it severely limits your bougainvillea’s size. And it takes dedication. I hope it survives many winters to come.
Ice Swimmer, miracle vine sounds appropriate. Here we just call it buganvília, which really isn’t that original.
voyager, thank you! It faces west and this time of the year the sun sets behind it when seen from the front door. The sunset that day wasn’t very impressive, but when it is it’s a pretty view from inside. And now I’m imagining Charly’s pink sunset happening here, together with the bougainvillea… now THAT would be unreal. :D
The colour is simply magnificent!
Last photo, though, is my favourite: you’ve caught the wonderful light effect and it’s a little bit of magic.
Thank you, rq!