DAY 56 (31 MAY) – Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spectabilis) (Vejer, Spain)
I knew I had to include this gorgeous display in the blog soon – so here it is today, before it starts to fade and the flowers fall.
I just discovered that bougainvillea is native to South America and was first introduced in Europe in the early 19th century. Now so widespread (mostly in hot countries) it’s acquired some interesting names: papelillo (little paper) in Peru; Napoleon in Honduras (no idea why); Drillingsblume (triple flower) in Germany and pokok bunga kertas in Indonesia and Malaysia which, although it officially translates as something like ‘tree of paper flowers’, sounds more like one of Silvio Berlusconi’s dodgy parties.
