Outdoor Wednesday: It's Pink and Shrimplike...

And not to be confused with Pinky The Shrimp on my sidebar [who is one of Notesong's Bathroom Divas]...



It's called a Shrimp Plant (Justicia Brandegeanna)...



And since it's Outdoor Wednesday at my friend Susan's blog, A Southern Daydreamer, I'd like to take a moment to explore this interesting plant. But first, in addition to saying that we hope Susan's mother in law is doing much better, I would like to thank Susan for always being such a gracious hostess for this event!




Last week on Outdoor Wednesday, I pointed out a plant that was near "the oldest well" in St. Augustine, and that plant is called the Shrimp Plant...




For those of you who aren't familiar with this plant, it is a native of Mexico and prefers to grow in warm climates like the one we have in Florida...




The blooms of the plant grow to look like shrimp, and some of the plants are pink...



There are, however, yellow shrimp plants that also resemble shrimp in all but color. The shrimp plant supposedly is a great attractor of ruby-throated hummingbirds (in the Top Ten according to Operation Ruby-Throat). While there are no hummingbirds in these shots, the pictures give you an indication of how these plants can thrive given the right conditions, growing to a height of somewhere around three feet...



They really don't like cold weather and will die back in the severe cold. This shot was taken last February during a fairly mild winter...



The plants belong to a friend of mine in Central Florida, and she cuts them way back so that they will come back fuller. Shrimp plants have a slight tendency to be leggy, and they like to take over a bed...



For little guys, they can be downright pushy...



But they are such a pretty shade of pink and such an interesting shape that no one seems to mind...



Now, if only we could find some hummingbirds, we would be set with this pastoral scene...



Before I go looking, let me wish you a wonderful Outdoor Wednesday and thank you for visiting me here at my blog. As always, I look forward to visiting you. Please join me over at Susan's blog by clicking here, where Susan and a whole host of other participants are waiting to share their outdoor scenes with you! :-)

Warmly,


Mrs. Magpie (Sheila)