Bromeliad Walk

Bromeliads in Spring

The Bromeliads

in my Bromeliad Hospital

have responded to nurturing

and care

The children

called pups 

were removed

from last season's parents

when flowering finished

and after recovering

from their separation

have branched out

thrust themselves into life

and flowered

 

bringing vibrant spring colour

and joy

to my deck

Bromeliads like this one above

store water in their tanks

made from the tight fitting overlapping

of their base leaves

 

along the street

I notice another bromeliad

calling for attention

 

proud of her achievements

 

the woven burgundy

herringbone structure

and

the beautiful green flower

tucked into her pocket

there are many bromeliad varieties

in fact their inflorescence

is regarded as the most diverse

of any plant family

 

There are many colours and shapes

and it is said

they are the most widely patterned

and colourful

of any plant in the world

Originally from

the tropical Americas

the bromeliads belong

to the Pineapple family

 

The Incas

the Aztecs

and the Mayans

all used bromeliads for

food

protection

fibre

and for ceremony

 

The bromeliad
can hold its flowers for months
so is popular
as an indoor plant

Bromeliads are beautiful

 flamboyant extroverts

and one of the signs

of an approaching

sub tropical summer...

*