DAILY PHOTO: Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia Milii)

Taken on February 25, 2014 in Cubbon Park.

Taken on February 25, 2014 in Cubbon Park.

20140225_145055Like someone you may know, this plant is pretty at a distance but mean close up.

DAILY PHOTO: Banana Flower

Taken in December of 2013 in Kuala Lumpur.

Taken in December of 2013 in Kuala Lumpur.

The other night, I ate banana flower for the first time–that I know of / remember–in two separate dishes. My wife and I were eating at the Oh! Calcutta on St. Mark’s Road in Bangalore, and we sampled banana flower croquettes as part of an assorted starter platter, and then I tasted some of my wife’s entrée, which was “dry cooked banana flower with coconut slivers.” The former was tasty, but so spicy that my undiscerning palate was incapable of learning anything about the flavor of this flower. The latter, much milder, dish tasted like a tasty take on mashed potatoes (again, to my unrefined palate.)

The picture above was taken in Malaysia, but banana flowers are present everywhere bananas grow (throughout much of tropics.)

Deceptively, the flower looks like it could be a deadly weapon–with its pointy, conical bloom.

DAILY PHOTO: Roses are Red… and a Bunch of Other Colors

Taken on January 26, 2014 at Lal Bagh Gardens

Taken on January 26, 2014 at Lal Bagh Gardens

Taken at the 2014 Republic Day Flower Show in Bangalore.

DAILY PHOTO: Flower Fountain

Taken on January 26, 2014 at Lal Bagh Botanical Gardens in Bangalore.

Taken on January 26, 2014 at Lal Bagh Botanical Gardens in Bangalore.

This looks like a waterless fountain, a fountain bursting with flowers.

DAILY PHOTO: Pink Coxcomb

Taken January 26, 2014 at  Lal Bagh Gardens.

Taken January 26, 2014 at Lal Bagh Gardens.

There were many beautiful coxcombs at the 2014 Republic Day Flower Show, but this one looked eerily like a brain.

DAILY PHOTO: Republic Day Flower Show

Taken January 26, 2014 at Lal Bagh Gardens in Bangalore.

Taken January 26, 2014 at Lal Bagh Gardens in Bangalore.

The Crystal Palace at Lal Bagh gardens, which is normally roped off and  empty, has been packed brimming with flowers for the annual Republic Day Flower Show that ends today.

It would be slightly more enjoyable if security wasn’t threatening to wallop one with a stick if one loiters for a second. You can see it as many times as you can fit in a day, but you must keep moving along. It’s a one way flow, so if you don’t have the desire to go through twice (once on either side) I’d recommend going on the south side (farthest from the main entrance.) For some reason the crowd was about half on that side (probably because no one anticipated the layout would make you do two half loops instead of one full loop.) Why they did it, I have no idea, but the flowers were pretty.

DAILY PHOTO: Fountains at Brindavan Gardens

Taken November 29, 2013 at Brindavan Gardens in Mysore

Taken November 29, 2013 at Brindavan Gardens in Mysore

Brindavan Garden is built at the base of the Krishnarajasagara (KRS) dam. However, it’s so beautiful that one forgets to worry about what would happen if the massive wall holding back  a lake from the Kaveri River were to catastrophically fail.

The garden takes advantage of the availability of water both in its fountains and in a gradual cascade that splits the garden down the center.

In the evening, all the tourists in town converge on this site to see the fountains lit up (except on Sundays when everybody is at the Mysore Palace to see it lit up.) About 2 million people a year visit the gardens.