A strange man gave me flowers, and Ian wasn’t even jealous! What is wrong with him, lol.
When we were on the Island Safari tour, our guide, Jordan, stopped at the side of the road to pick this flower for the ladies on the tour. Of course we were all flattered and gave him a special smile, what woman doesn’t want to get a flower from a handsome young man.
Caesalpinia pulcherrima is known (at least here) as the Pride of Barbados. It appears on the coat of arms of Barbados, as well as on the Queens personal Barbadian flag.
This plant with its lovely yellow flowers can grow 10-15 feet tall, but can be pruned into a low hedge. It also flowers in red/yellow and pink. The long seed pods let you know that it is a member of the legume family.
With large compound leaves, flowering all year in full sun and tolerant of dry soil, it certainly deserves its title, ‘Pride of Barbados’.
I am a floral designer living in a tiny condo in downtown Toronto, Canada's largest city. But on the weekend, I am a gardener/frustrated architect trying to keep up with a 3/4 acre garden in Owen Sound, Ontario, a warm (to Canadians, Zone 5b, and a cold (to Americans, Zone 4b) garden.
Green Theatre 
Garden Walk Garden Talk said,
February 21, 2011 @ 7:35 AM
Ian should be on his toes. Chivalry is not dead on Barbados. This is a pretty flower and the leaves remind me of mimosa. You re having a wonderful time of discovery, I would be having a ball.
Laurrie said,
February 21, 2011 @ 8:04 AM
What an exotic and lovely plant. Pride of Barbados indeed! Once, when I was a young college student touring in Finland, a young man walked up to me on the street and gave me a yellow tulip. For no reason. Then he went on his way. Flowers from a handsome stranger . . . one of life’s treasures : ) I hope you enjoyed yours!
debsgarden said,
February 21, 2011 @ 10:09 AM
Now that’s a good tour guide with a romantic spirit! It must be a lot of fun discovering exotic new flowers. This one is beautiful!
kilbournegrove said,
February 28, 2011 @ 9:06 AM
There are sooo many still to discover, a lifes work.
teza said,
February 21, 2011 @ 10:27 AM
D:
Handsome men and flowers….. hmmmm! Ian, keep an eye on things! LOL! What a beautiful plant. It does remind me of Cassia marilandica [foliage wise] but the flower is like Hypericum. You must check and see if the foliage actually closes [folds upon itself like the sensitive plant]… if so I think it might be related to Cassia. Its always exciting to learn about the new flora that you are experiencing!
Hope all is well with you!
kilbournegrove said,
February 28, 2011 @ 9:07 AM
Sound like you? Ian better watch himself, lol.
Kimberly (Garden in Paradise) said,
February 21, 2011 @ 10:41 AM
Ohhhh…I love these! I have babies of the red version from a gardening friend from Vietnam (he has the most amazing garden!!).
I was gifted with a beautiful sweet pea bundle from a stranger as I walked along a path with my family when I was just 13…I remember it well. I placed it in a vase on my bedroom window sill where it lasted for weeks with it’s lovely fragrance. Great joy that I still carry!
kilbournegrove said,
February 28, 2011 @ 9:08 AM
It is amazing at what a lift it gives you.
Edith Hope said,
February 21, 2011 @ 12:05 PM
Dearest D, An impromptu bouquet……what could be nicer. But, Ian is a man for the big gesture I feel…after all he was the one doing all that hard landcaping at Kilbourne Grove and, if that was not enough, whisked you off to Barbados!
kilbournegrove said,
February 28, 2011 @ 9:08 AM
You are right, darling E, I think I will keep him a little while longer, lol.
Jean said,
February 21, 2011 @ 1:47 PM
That is a lovely flower, one any country could be proud of! Of course, I am partial to yellow and find this particular shade of yellow especially delicious. -Jean
kilbournegrove said,
February 28, 2011 @ 9:09 AM
It is a lovely shade of yellow, and really stands out under the brilliant blue sky.
Donna said,
February 21, 2011 @ 5:28 PM
what a beautiful flower…no wonder it is so prized on Barbados and no wonder you were presented with this special flower…
kilbournegrove said,
February 28, 2011 @ 9:09 AM
There are so many beautiful flowers on Barbados, but this one does stand out.
Rebecca @ In The Garden said,
February 21, 2011 @ 11:30 PM
BEAUTIFUL!!! The fancy blooms remind me of blooms. Sounds like a fabulous day. 🙂
kilbournegrove said,
February 28, 2011 @ 9:10 AM
It was a fab day, Rebecca.
p3chandan said,
February 22, 2011 @ 4:17 AM
Lovely yellow colour of this flower! Here we call them Peacock flower and usually orange in colour, never seen yellow or pink colour before.
kilbournegrove said,
February 28, 2011 @ 9:11 AM
Peacock flower is very fitting as well, glad I could show you the yellow.
lifeshighway said,
February 22, 2011 @ 12:36 PM
Oh I do, I do. I want to receive a lovely flower from a beautiful young man. Well he does not have to be beautiful exactly, perhaps he just needs to make me feel beautiful.
kilbournegrove said,
February 28, 2011 @ 9:11 AM
And he really did, quite a morale boast.
Masha said,
February 23, 2011 @ 2:46 PM
Such an unusual flower with those long stamens. I did not know it was on the coat of arms of Barbados!
kilbournegrove said,
February 28, 2011 @ 9:12 AM
The power of the internet, it is amazing what you learn.
Carol Flett said,
February 23, 2011 @ 5:39 PM
The plant appears to have a lovely form
kilbournegrove said,
February 28, 2011 @ 9:12 AM
It is used a lot as a hedge here, quite a lovely divider.
Carolflowerhillfarm said,
February 24, 2011 @ 10:35 AM
How sweet to for all the ladies! This all sounds so quaint and lovely. Quite a lovely flower too.
kilbournegrove said,
February 28, 2011 @ 9:18 AM
He was a charmer!