Blooming Friday/ Butterfly Ginger Lily

It's time again to talk about what's blooming in gardens around
the world! To see the global display, please visit Katarina at
Roses and Stuff.

The first photo is of the Grasshawk dragonfly/Neurothemis fluctuans.
Although I've posted other photos before I can't resist posting this
one. It came and perched itself on an Allamanda leaf as I was waiting
to get a better shot of a lizard. On other occasions, it had led me
on a wild goose chase around the yard, in the scorching afternoon sun.










I'm so happy to see the Butterfly Ginger Lily blooming. It's
blooming for the first time. The shape does look like a butter-
fly with open wings. And the fragrance...ooh, it's heavenly! I
never imagined that the plant would have such sweet-scented
flowers.








This plant belongs to the ginger family Zingiberaceae and is
native to India. The botanical name is Hedychium coronarium.
The lily can grow up to 2 mtrs tall. Propagation is through
rhizomes. With such a delightful smell it is used in the
making of perfumes. As for its medicinal uses, the rhizomes
are used in the treatment of tonsillitis and fever.

I've also found out that the flowers/buds are edible. The blooms
are also used in making leis in Hawaii. No wonder it is also
known as the Garland Flower. The blooms attract moths at night.
I hope I have the moths flying in!








The inflorescence of the Ginger lily.







I had picked up the plant from the wayside in April in my
hometown. Someone had dumped a clump of the lily here, below
the road next to a trickle of water from a hill spring. (But
during the rainy season, the trickle turns into a roaring
cascade). Here, where wild balsam blooms and ferns grow, I'd
seen some blue damselflies. I thought I'd get some good photos
of the damsels. Well, I didn't get them but I got several
'butterflies' instead!