When the greyness of a British January gets too much and I’m in need of some colour, I come back to my photos from Bali last year and the vibrant shades of the island’s flowers. Indonesia’s tropical climate and mix of habitats make it home to over 28,000 plant species, and you can see and smell them wherever you go. They run through a whole rainbow of colours, from shocking pinks to vivid purples, bright reds, rich oranges and sunny yellows. Whether growing wild, used to make offerings to the gods, or tucked in someone’s hair, the whole of the island is decorated with their colours and perfumes.
p.s. I’m no botanist and known for killing off my houseplants, but courtesy of a bit of research I think we have (below, from top to bottom): Frangipani, Alamanda, Adenium and Heleconia, and Ixora.
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![Gorgeously green 💚 When I think of the colours of the Caribbean I think of blue skies and golden sand, but Saint Lucia was all about the luscious shades of green – from peaks covered in rainforest to palm trees along the beach. Our hotel @capmaison was a real oasis of green, with tropical plants and colourful flowers surrounding the villas. The gardens were created by local garden design legend Veronica Shingleton-Smith, who has her own botanic gardens on the east coast. As someone who struggles to keep a pot plant alive for more than a month, I’m in awe! You can read more about my stay at the lovely Cap Maison in my latest post on the blog [link in bio].](http://scontent-lht6-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/7c576b752324b9a63f27e3617d3fdc32/5BE5BA7C/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/s640x640/35155891_284492388759351_5623141509441257472_n.jpg?_nc_eui2=AeFUZDF7_p04agjxiWX5MVxaD92THHqZbrI3z4T3mujfiCdljtliNXiMfYGBRe1beA0Ux8v9inVwERAzxo0y8ErT "Gorgeously green 💚 When I think of the colours of the Caribbean I think of blue skies and golden sand, but Saint Lucia was all about the luscious shades of green – from peaks covered in rainforest to palm trees along the beach. Our hotel @capmaison was a real oasis of green, with tropical plants and colourful flowers surrounding the villas. The gardens were created by local garden design legend Veronica Shingleton-Smith, who has her own botanic gardens on the east coast. As someone who struggles to keep a pot plant alive for more than a month, I’m in awe! You can read more about my stay at the lovely Cap Maison in my latest post on the blog [link in bio].")
18 Comments
Anita Mac
January 19, 2012 at 1:17 pmGorgeous – I love the tropical flowers! It brings me back – the fragrance of the frangipani – nice.
Lucy Dodsworth
January 23, 2012 at 10:49 amThought it’d be nice to try and remember what summer is like, it’s been a while!
marinachetner
January 19, 2012 at 2:22 pmLOVE these shots, and the frangipani is such a gorgeous flower – in its scent and beauty.
Lucy Dodsworth
January 23, 2012 at 10:50 amPity that you can’t get the scent across the Internet!
marinachetner
January 23, 2012 at 9:43 pmI have it engrained in memory! The tree is really common in Australia 🙂
Ship's Cook
January 19, 2012 at 8:30 pmLovely photos
eradwiyanti
January 20, 2012 at 6:04 amGreat to see the various flowers of my island. Thanks for visiting Bali
Lucy Dodsworth
January 23, 2012 at 10:49 amThank you, I really loved Bali and would like to go back and see more of it one day.
Wibi Udayana
January 22, 2012 at 3:46 amGreat pics. I have all those flowers in my house. 😀
Lucy Dodsworth
January 23, 2012 at 10:48 amThanks – and lucky you, there’s not a lot growing here in England at the moment!
kerryl29
January 27, 2012 at 9:15 pmAn excellent series of florals (etc.)! These are the kinds of species I’d only have a chance of seeing at a local conservatory.
Lucy Dodsworth
February 1, 2012 at 2:43 pmThanks Kerry, unfortunately I don’t get to see them very often either, but helps me remember what its like to be somewhere hot and tropical even in the midst of winter here!
hotelnikkosaigon
February 1, 2012 at 5:22 amYour shoot is really nice. There are a lot of tropical flowers in Vietnam. You should visit Vietnam specially Da Lat. You will love it 🙂
Lucy Dodsworth
February 1, 2012 at 2:42 pmThanks, I visited Vietnam about 8 years ago and would love to go back and see how it has changed. I only had a couple of days in Dalat but hopefully can spend more time there next time!
Talitha
February 8, 2012 at 1:31 pmReblogged this on My Favorite Spaces.
Pegan Brooke
October 14, 2013 at 12:46 amWhat is the name of the 3rd image flower [large yellow one]?
Just returned from Bali. Wow.
Lucy Dodsworth
October 14, 2013 at 10:23 pmI think it’s called a Adenium. Hope you had a great trip, I loved my time in Bali.
Budi | Photo Blog
August 1, 2015 at 1:12 amI always see all of those image in my hometown. nice pict to shoot.