Shrimp Plant in Vignette © 2012 Bo Mackison
The sun doesn’t shine for a few trees and flowers, but for the whole world’s joy. ~ Henry Ward Beecher
Yes. There is a plant called a Shrimp Plant, and once you’ve seen one, you forever know why it is called the shrimp plant. It looks almost good enough to eat. Roasted shrimp from Tucson’s first 100˚ day – yes, indeed! I was hungry and they looked tempting . . .
I visited the Tucson Botanical Gardens this morning, thinking I could be back home before it became too hot. I was wrong. I spent way too much time photographing Zen Gardens and wheelbarrows and shadows and fountains and sprinkling cans . . . you get the idea.
Shrimp Plant © 2012 Bo Mackison
I also photographed this Shrimp Plant just before I left the gardens. Yes, it was two in the afternoon and way too bright, but happily these plants were in the shade. And yes, I was a bit worn out and did not set up my tripod because I had just packed it in order to leave. But the wind was cooperative, I suppose, in that there was no wind. And so I took several quick snaps of these beauties.
Really! Have you ever seen a flower that was as shrimp colored as a shrimp? And a flower that was both shrimp colored and the shape of a shrimp?
From my internet research, I discovered that these are tropical plants, native to Mexico, but popular as house and garden plants in the states of Texas and Florida. I didn’t see any references to Shrimp Plants in Arizona, but I know where several are blooming.
Visit the Tucson Botanical Gardens to get a look at the real thing.
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Bo Mackison is a photographer and owner of Seeded Earth Studio LLC.
About Bo Mackison
The name fits the flowers!
It sure does! Even down the exact color…:-)
Wow, very cool. Glad you’re enjoying your early Spring, Bo.
Hi Roma. It’s moved into summer, big time, in Arizona, but in a few days I’ll be time-traveling back to spring in the Midwest. It will be a big change.
Too funny. I might have shrimp on the grill tonight. You made me hungry.
Shrimp on the grill — sounds yummy!
How fascinating! I can actually see how the plant got its name.
Amazing, isn;t it? I’ve never seen a plant look so much like something I want to eat.
That’s a new one to me, but it’s a very pretty little thing!
It is pretty, isn;t it? I love the colors. And yes, I was stopped in my tracks when I saw it — new one to me, too.