Would I still grow them all if I didn't want to take photos?
I sure would!
But I do admit that it is an extra bonus to be able to see them from this close! To get a good look at the textures and patterns that I cannot see just by looking at them. Even the smallest and not so special flowers look pretty amazing when shown in macro.
These Kalanhoe Lucky Bells buds. The plant can grow multiple of those and as I it recommended to have few plants in one pot (they are quite skinny on their own, so a few create a nice bush) there is dozens and dozens of bell-like flower opening in the same time.
But just check out the buds. The outer shell has some nice darker spots (the flower is red) in the corners and some splashes of coulour on the tops too. As the flower inside grows they open and you an see the future petals forming inside.
Ok, this is not Kalanchoe but Echeveria Agavoides. The bell shape flowers are similar so I picked the photos too :)
The young flowers are hiding in much smaller cases and they look like sugar coated with all the sparkles.
The flowers look like flames with the red base and yellow tips.
Clusters of the hang on long, red stems.
Blooming that that few times a year. Pretty cool, innit?
Back to Kalanchoe type: Kalanchoe daigremontiana - again darker and larger spots in the corner. The plant and the flowers are bigger too. And to my surprise, the flowers are yellow. Most that I have seen are red.
Here is a little macro bonus :)
