Unlike yesterday, when not everyone would agree about how beautiful the subject was I don't think anyone could seriously disagree about today's offering.
Red flowers are difficult to photograph. It's not because they're camera shy or move about more than any other colour but because getting a true representation of the colour is really difficult. So there are some flowers that I never bother trying to shoot.
I am not 100% certain but I think this flower is a red variety of Rudbeckia, often known as Black-Eyed Susan a perennial flower that looks great with masses of colourful flowers which open out to a broad flat(ish) face with bright petals that gradually fold back towards the stem and in doing so the central black platform becomes a ball of tiny spikes and curls which look gorgeous and are a magnet for bees and other pollinators.
I have a number of shots of these flowers from my most recent visit to Ness Botanic Gardens and I wanted to share some of my favourites. I really love the final shot with the bee hard at work and the subtle back lighting. I think its a great image. If you like them or if you have favourite why not leave a comment.
Flies get a bad rap and it is hardly surprising since they have some pretty disgusting habits but if you can put your prejudices to one side and look closely there really is something of beauty. Look at the glassy wings and shimmering thorax and those fantastic eyes.
The honey bee is industrious and popular but are viewed cautiously and fearfully because of their potential to sting. They too are marvelous creations and really quite beautiful. I love to photograph them hard at work and with their dusting of pollen.
I love these gorgeous yellow flowers. I am not sure what they are, a variety of sunflower perhaps, but they are certainly a hit with the bees.
I liked the picture of the bees feasting on the Echinops yesterday so I decided to post a few more images of this amazing flower today.
I like the first shot, taken from a low vantage point it gives the impression of balloons floating away.
I also really like the third shot getting in close to show the detail of the spiky blossoms.
I can't decide which I like best, do you have a favourite? If so leave a comment below.
This fabulous plant is an Echinops. The spiky seed head has a curly flower coating which quite clearly provides a feat for bees as you can see from this shot with three busy bees feasting on the nectar. There is barely enough space for them but they were too busy to notice...
I can never resist posting pictures of yellow flowers and this is a stunner. It is Hypericum forestii a plant more at home on a Chinese mountainside but here in Ness Botanical Gardens it was attracting a host of bees.
As you can see in the second picture this bumble bee was drawn to the bright colours and tasty nectar and was just coming in to land as I captured the shot.
So the title of today's post is slightly cryptic but will make sense to anyone who watches the cartoon The Simpsons.
"How?" I hear you ask...
This lovely yellow flower is Sedum caereleum and the variety is "Carl". In The Simpsons Carl's best friend is Lenny so having posted these pictures of Carl I pose the question where is Lenny?
I don't have any pictures of Lenny but a little bit of research means I can share a link to the RHS website where you can see pictures of a Hibiscus variety that is called Lenny
Anyway back to Carl, you can see from the first image how the flower head is actually a mass of tiny star shaped flowers with little coiled stamen.
I am really happy with all three of these pictures and hope that you enjoy them.
There is so much about this flower that I love, the soft delicate petals curled around waiting to unfurl and reveal the heart of the flower, the soft white outer edges that gradually fade into green that looks like it has been applied in fine brush strokes, the shape like a candle flame and the way it stands out against the lush background. It is almost perfect but if you look closely at the left hand side you will see half way down a slight crease which shows how fragile this lovely plant is.
This beautiful and delicate looking flower is a variety of Salvia (Salvia macrophylla I think).
It has lovely soft tissue like petals with a covering of tiny hairs. I really like the colour too. Each stem has an abundance of flowers and the contrast against the green background is quite stunning. I have chosen a nice macro shot though to really show off the best of this wonderful flower.
Today's flower like yesterday's is a variety of Lamiaceae which are part of the mint or deadnettle family.
This particular plant is Salvia microphylla "Hot Lips" and it is easy to see how it gets the name. I wonder if the name was also inspired by the character Hot Lips Houlihan from the movie and TV show M.A.S.H.
Whatever the inspiration this is a lovely little flower and deserving of a place in my daily blog.
I called today's post nature's jewels because I think these lovely delicate flowers are like earings. They also resemble little birds or perhaps colourful flying fish.
They are really delicate and small and easily overlooked but well worth a closer look to see the speckled pink flowers nestled against the lush green foliage.
The plant is a variety of LAMIACEAE called Bollota pseudo-dictamus that goes by the common name of False Dittany.
Following on from yesterday's pictures of a bumblebee today I have this gorgeous hoverfly for you.
I know that gorgeous might seem an unlikely adjective for a flying bug but with its shiny metallic thorax, glassy wings and intricate compound eyes this bug is a little beauty.
Add the brilliant yellow flower into the mix and these are fantastic shots even if I do say so myself.
So I had gone to Ness to photograph the summer flowers but of course where there are flowers there are also going to be bugs and with my macro lens and a lot of patience I can get in close and get some great shots.
Today's selection shows a beautiful bumble bee hard at work gathering pollen from Actaea simplex "Brunette" a hardy herbaceous perennial with flowers almost as soft and furry as the bee itself.
I am really happy with these shots, not just for the clarity of the images of the bee with its strong colours and glassy wings but also for the bokeh in the first picture and while I tend not to blow my own trumpet I am sure you will agree they are pretty darned good.
I have photographed this type pf flower before but didn't know what it was but after visiting Ness Gardens I now know it is Verbena. I love the purple flowers and if you zoom in on the the first image you will see that the centre glistens and has fine filaments and the petals appear to have a dusting of something shiny which glitter as the sunlight hits them.
Today I have left Whitby behind and these pictures were taken during a visit to Ness Botanic Gardens.
I thought these were a variety of thistle but apparently it is Sea Holly or Eryngium maritimum which has been described as "a Thistle with style". They are certainly striking plants and with their vibrant blue they look great against the background of wispy grasses.
I spent a few hours wandering around the gardens so you can be certain that I took lots of photographs of bugs and flowers and of course I can hardly wait to share the pick of the bunch so please keep coming back to see for yourself.
"Thimble weed", "Stink Fox" or "Wood Anemone"
Four different names for the same flower, whatever you know it as here are some lovely shots of this flower that appears in early spring creating a lovely blanket of white, green and yellow.
I wasn't able to post anything yesterday as I was camping in North Wales and had no internet access. I was able to get some good shots though so I look forward to posting some in the near future. I still have a few more from Ness Gardens to share and I also have some from last weekend which should be a real treat.
There really is something about spring and these pictures show it. I love the delicate buds and the way new life springs from once barren looking branches. I also like the way plants can resemble other things from nature.
I don't know what the first plant is but it is soft and fresh and I like the way the tips of the leaves come together in a way reminiscent of finger tips.
The next shot is of a hazel bud which was part of a living arch. The soft furry buds look more mammal than tree.
The final two pictures are of pussy willow and again there is a soft downy quality as well as a gentle spikiness to these buds a bit like a caterpillar
Araucaria araucana or Monkey Puzzle (or Chilean Pine) to be precise.
The Monkey Puzzle Tree at Ness Gardens is probably the biggest and best specimen I have ever seen. For a shot of it in full have a look at this link.
While it is quite spectacular in full I find the detail much more interesting with the twisted rope like branches and succulent spiky leaves. I also like the alien seed pods which were only growing on one side of the tree. There is so much going on in this tree.
I was going to call today's post "Lawn Flair" because Daisies and Dandelions add flair to lawns however for those who want a neat and manicured lawn these colourful flowers are unwelcome intruders and so I chose a different title...
While I can understand how Daisies and Dandelions would be out of place in some gardens they really are among my favourite flowers and so we shouldn't overlook how beautiful they are and even humble weeds have their place.
I have never really been that keen on Hellebores but I now know that that is because I had never seen a really good specimen.
If I am honest I am not too keen on the first one in today's selection, I think it's a good enough photo but I'm just not struck by the flower itself.
The next three however I really like. I love the rich dark colour (even though I can't tell what colour it is) and then the green and cream of the central crown. It is really a thing of beauty so I now have a different impression of Hellebores.
