I saw this flower at the garden market I visited this weekend. I bought some red ones but I snapped a photo of this one while I was there. It is a Mimulus also known as a Monkey Flower because it is said to resemble the grinning face of a monkey. (Personally, I don’t see it). It gives bright colorful blooms that are great in hanging baskets and containers. These flowers are very attractive to butterflies. They like partial sun or shade and prefer consistent moisture and rich soil. They grow 10-12 inches tall. They can also be used as a houseplant or brought inside before the first frost. Now that I am looking at the beauty in this bloom I wish I had bought it too. Maybe next time.
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April 18th, 2010 at: 8:47 pm
Fantastic flower Teresa. Colorful is an understatement. They attract butterflies eh? I’ll need to look into this one.
April 18th, 2010 at: 9:05 pm
Yup this is beautiful and I can’t see the monkey smile in that beautiful flower ^_^. I thought it’s an orchid but it’s not. Thanks for sharing! Happy Monday!
Antzy
April 18th, 2010 at: 9:47 pm
I don’t see the monkey either, but it’s certainly a pretty flower. Great shot.
April 18th, 2010 at: 10:28 pm
I’m sure the money is there, but I don’t see it either. Great photo of a beautiful flower.
April 19th, 2010 at: 1:51 am
Monkey or not, what interesting coloring it has!
April 19th, 2010 at: 5:03 am
Beautiful – and a very striking variant!
I have some of the original mimulus in my pond. I think the monkey face is more apparent in the wild ones – the lower petals are a slightly different shape. If you go here -
http://www.yourlocalweb.co.uk/images/pictures/22/98/monkey-flower-mimulus-guttatus-226877.jpg
You’ll see that it looks a bit like a monkey sticking his tongue out at you!
April 19th, 2010 at: 7:41 am
Wow…that is stunning!!
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April 19th, 2010 at: 10:02 am
The mimulus is very pretty, but I don’t see the monkey face either. Some say pansies have the monkey face.
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=pansies&FORM=BIFD#focal=c67b88b2cf2fb6049d890a1e8f5d3596&furl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.prenhall.com%2Fmccracken_wolfe%2Fstudents%2Fappendix%2Fimages%2FPansiesFull.jpg
What do you think?
(I’m lookin for a nice cool pair of gardening shoes, by cool I mean weather wise, and cool on my feet. But I reckon they should look cool too.)
April 19th, 2010 at: 10:52 am
I can’t say I see a grinning monkey face, but it is an exquisite bloom nonetheless!
April 19th, 2010 at: 2:29 pm
Those pansies do look alot more like a face to me. You can at least make it out a bit easier. For Garden Shoes I would recomend our Muck Daily Garden shoes. They are waterproof and the stretchy top keeps the dirt out. I wear them in the summertime and they are very comfortable, my feet do not get too hot as long as you wear socks. I am assuming it is cool shoes as in keep your feet cool in the summer when you are working. I also have a pair of garden grip clogs that I absolutely love. They make a shoe also(which I have not personally tried out), Men’s LawnGrips Pro Lite 6-inch Work Boots. What is nice about these is the steel shank in the arch that makes shoveling a lot more comfortable as well as safer on your foot. If you are looking for a croc type of shoe for summer, the sloggers uni garden sandals are great to putt around the yard if your feet won’t be in a lot of dirt. They have an insole, (unlike crocs) that makes them extra comfy. You can wear them with or without the insole. Easier to hose off without tho. Any of these will work, depending on what you like.
April 19th, 2010 at: 5:17 pm
I don’t see it either but I love the mottled colors and the funny name.
April 21st, 2010 at: 8:19 am
beautiful flower…I haven’t seen them before…but why did it get such a name..:-(
are they perenials tes?
April 21st, 2010 at: 11:01 am
Raji, From what I have read, Mimulus is an annual that can also be a houseplant, so you can bring it in when there is very cold weather. They are supposed to look like a monkey face that’s where they get their name.