DESKTOP 302 - MOSS

This post is part of the Weekly TopShot meme,
and also part of the I Heart Macros meme.

DESKTOP 301 - MOON & VENUS

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme.

DESKTOP 300 - FELICIA

Felicia amelloides (blue daisy, blue marguerite) is a species of flowering plant of the family Asteraceae, native to South Africa. F. amelloides is synonymous with, and formerly known as, F. aethiopica, Aster amelloides, Aster capensis, and Aster coelestis.
 
F. amelloides is an evergreen shrublet usually 30–60 cm tall by 50 cm wide, but sometimes up to 1 m tall, with densely branched and frequently dark red stems, and rough, hairy, ovate green leaves. Striking blue composite flowers with prominent yellow centres, about 30 mm in diameter, and borne on naked stalks up to 180 mm long.
 
This species is much cultivated, and in the temperate world is usually grown as a half-hardy annual in pots, window-boxes, hanging baskets, and other summer bedding schemes for parks and gardens. Drought- and wind-resistant, it requires a sheltered aspect in full sun, and does not tolerate frost.
 
This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.

DESKTOP 299 - ALONNISOS, GREECE

This post is part of the Waterworld Wednesday meme,
and also part of the Outdoor Wednesday meme,
and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme.

DESKTOP 298 - GREVILLEA

This post is part of the Nature Footsteps Floral Macros meme,
and also part of the Our World Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Ruby Tuesday meme.

DESKTOP 297 - GRASS

This post is part of the Nature Footsteps Inspiring Photography meme.

DESKTOP 296 - FIG LEAF

This post is part of the I Heart Macros meme.

DESKTOP 295 - MUSHROOMS

This post is part of the Weekly TopShot meme,
and also part of the I Heart Macros meme.

DESKTOP 294 - GROWTH

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme.

DESKTOP 293 - VIOLET

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.

DESKTOP 292 - DANDELION

This post is part of the Outdoor Wednesday meme,
and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,
and also part of ABC Wednesday meme.

DESKTOP 291 - B&W RED ROSE

This post is part of the Nature Footsteps Floral Macros meme,
and also part of the Our World Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Ruby Tuesday meme.

DESKTOP 290 - TILEWORK

Some original Edwardian tilework from the Retreat Hotel in Abbotsford in Melbourne, Australia.
 
This post is part of the Blue Monday meme,

and also part of the Monday Mellow Yellows meme.

DESKTOP 289 - AUTUMN'S COLOURS

This post is part of the I Heart Macros meme,
and also part of the Mandarin Orange Monday meme.

DESKTOP 288 - MIRROR INTO THE PAST

This post is part of the Weekend Reflections meme,
and also part of the Weekly TopShot meme.

DESKTOP 287 - SUNSET IN THE CITY

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme.

DESKTOP 286 - ORNAMENTAL CABBAGE

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.

DESKTOP 285 - RAINY ROSE

This post is part of the Waterworld Wednesday meme,
and also part of the Outdoor Wednesday meme,
and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,
and also part of the ABC Wednesday meme.

DESKTOP 284 - HIBISCUS

This post is part of the Nature Footsteps Floral Macros meme,
and also part of the Our World Tuesday meme, 
and also part of the Ruby Tuesday meme.

DESKTOP 283 - FOREST CANOPY

This post is part of the Nature Footsteps Inspiring Photography meme,
and also part of the Blue Monday meme.

DESKTOP 282 - SUNNY GRASS

This post is part of the Weekly TopShot meme,
and also part of the I Heart Macros meme.

DESKTOP 281 - AUTUMN LEAF

This post is part of the I Heart Macros meme.

DESKTOP 280 - YARRA RIVER, MELBOURNE

This view of the Melbourne city centre and the Yarra River from the East is iconic.

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme.

DESKTOP 279 - RHODOHYPOXIS

Rhodohypoxis is a small genus of tuberous flowering plants in the family Hypoxidaceae, native to southern Africa. The small flowers, no more than 15 cm high, are constructed so that their centres are not visible. Some species are in cultivation and they are commonly seen in gardens in Australia.

Rhodohypoxis species grow from small tubers. They flower in the summer and die down in the winter. When in flower, they are typically 2–15 cm tall. The flowers are white, pink or red; the bases of the tepals bend inwards, so that the stamens and ovary are not visible. Rhodohypoxis species are found in the eastern part of southern Africa, particularly in the Drakensberg mountains in the province of Natal, South Africa and Lesotho. This is a region of summer rainfall with relatively dry winters.

R. baurii (shown here) is not uncommon in cultivation. It is not reliably frost hardy, so is often grown in pots, protected in the winter. Various colour forms are available under cultivar names, e.g. 'Ruth' (pure white), 'Allbrighton' (pink) and 'Douglas' (red). Some other species, such as R. milloides, and hybrids with Hypoxis species are also grown.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.

DESKTOP 278 - CREEK

This post is part of the Waterworld Wednesday meme,
and also part of the Outdoor Wednesday meme,
and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme.

DESKTOP 277 - PYRACANTHA

Pyracantha coccinea is the European species of Firethorn that has been cultivated in gardens since the late 16th century. The tree has small white flowers. It produces small, bright red berries. The fruit is bitter and astringent, making it inedible when raw. The fruit can be cooked to make jellies, jams, sauces and marmalade. It ranges from southern Europe to western Asia. It has been introduced to North America and cultivated there as an ornamental plant since the 18th century.

This post is part of the Nature Footsteps Floral Macros meme,
and also part of the Our World Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Ruby Tuesday meme.

DESKTOP 276 - CITY LIGHTS

This post is part of the Monday Mellow Yellows meme,
and also part of the Mandarin Orange Monday meme,
and also part of the Nature Footsteps Inspiring Photography meme,
and also part of the Blue Monday meme.

DESKTOP 275 - VIRGINIA CREEPER

This post just is!

DESKTOP 274 - BEE & ROSE

This post is part of the Weekly TopShot meme,
and also part of the Pink Saturday meme,
and also part of the I Heart Macros meme.

DESKTOP 273 - SUNCATCHERS

Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) flowers against the sky.

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme,

and also part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.

DESKTOP 272 - NAKED LADIES LILY

Amaryllis is a small genus of flowering bulbs, with two species. The better known of the two, Amaryllis belladonna, is a native of the Western Cape region of South Africa, particularly the rocky southwest area between the Olifants River Valley to Knysna. For many years there was confusion amongst botanists over the generic names Amaryllis and Hippeastrum, one result of which is that the common name "amaryllis" is mainly used for cultivars of the genus Hippeastrum, widely sold in the winter months for their ability to bloom indoors.
 
Plants of the genus Amaryllis are known as belladonna lily, Jersey lily, naked lady, amarillo or, in South Africa, March lily due to its propensity to flower around March. This is one of numerous genera with the common name "lily" due to their flower shape and growth habit. However, they are only distantly related to the true lily, Lilium.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.