Walking in the Learning Forest quite a bit last week, I have been surrounded by healing nature while rehabilitating the injured foot, I have enjoyed much conversation & exercise with Loving Husband because restrictions have been relaxed and we can now exercise with persons from the same household.

On one of these jaunts, Loving Husband stopped dead and peered at the underbrush. At first glance, it looked like a wilted flower. Upon closer squinting, I realised that it was a perfectly healthy specimen of a black bloom. We explored around the area and found other similar plants.


Some googling at home brought us the name of this unusual blossom: the Black Bat Flower. What an alluring name for a stunning find.



This is my contribution to Friendly Friday Photo: Surprise hosted by Amanda at SomethingToPonderAbout & Sandy at TheSandyChronicles.
A natural surprise! Did you know I used to have one of these plants – about 30 years ago I think it flowered twice and that was it. Died shortly afterwards. It was so Gothic like! Highly unusual.
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Wow! You actually had this plant? Was it potted? It is very Gothic, isn’t it? I didn’t even know such a plant existed before we spotted and googled more about it.
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Yes, I kept it in a pot. I have never seen one since then, so it was very unusual. I suppose I could have planted it in the ground, but I kept it in the greenhouse as it looked vulnerable.
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The ones I’ve been walking past are rather large!
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Oh really. My flower was only about 7cm in radius.
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Wow, that is so different 😃
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It was pretty amazing for us! Thank you for sharing in our surprise!
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Black flowers! A nice find…
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Thank you for sharing in my delight!
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My pleasure 😊
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Nature can be so bizarre! The green one reminds me of a jellyfish.
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Isn’t it, though? Nature is so wonderful in her expressions! I see the jellyfish!
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Unusual find!
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Isn’t it? And the first one was hidden under the large leaves of the plant, so it really was a fun surprise!
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What a find, Ju-Lyn. My mum has two bat flower plants in her Queensland garden – one black and one white. The flowers are exquisite.
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How amazing! Do your mum’s plants bloom very often?
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I’ve never thought to ask her, Ju-Lyn. I just assumed they flowered once annually. I will ask my mother next time I speak to her.
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What an intriguing flower! Thank you so much for sharing that!
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One of nature’s awesome expressions – I am so taken by it!
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Small joys!
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Oh wow this is interesting. I’ve never seen a flower of this plant. And good for you that you get to take a walk there now. I’m stuck at home healing my infected lip. Can’t wear mask, can’t go out 😦
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I learned something today! I have never seen anything like it before. Interesting plant.
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