The Wittunga Botanic Gardens in the Adelaide Hills suburb of Blackwood is a popular place for walks and picnics. It also has some beautiful garden displays of South African plants. At this time of year the South African bulbs are at their best. One of the most striking is Haemanthus coccineus, the Blood Flower or Paintbrush Lily. It s flower springs from the soil on a short robust stem. I was lucky to find several flowers open in one spot.

Once the flower is spent the broad fleshy leaves emerge, and the flowers wither to brown.