30 April 2014
While it feels like it’s been raining forever, last weekend’s weather was sunny and so were the flowers. Here’s a selection I found at Raccoon Creek Wildflower Reserve and Friendship Hill National Historic Site on Saturday and Sunday.
Above, a very close look at Great Chickweed (Stellaria pubera), also called Star Chickweed. The flower is only 1/2″ across and it has only five petals but they’re so deeply cleft that they look like ten.
Below, inch-long Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica) in bloom at Raccoon Wildflower Reserve. I love how they change color as they open.
Toad Trillium or Toadshade (Trillium sessile) is rarely seen from this angle because the plant is only four inches tall. (I got muddy taking this picture.) The dark, closed petals look boring from above but graceful from the side. Perhaps they open like this so the pollen can disperse more easily. It’s dusting the leaf at front left.
Today’s April showers will bring May flowers. It’s hard to believe that May begins tomorrow.
(photos by Kate St. John)
Kate, I so love trillium. Back in the 70’s and 80’s, I had a house in Ontario, NY. It came with 4 acres of wonderful woods, and every spring I would walk through them and find all the trillium. Thank you for reminding me.
Rain! Oh, you lucky, lucky people. Miserably hot and extremely windy here in SO CAL.
Kate you get in close. What camera do you use for these close ups?If it isn’t a trade secret? I don’t know camera’s. How many megapixels? I have a 5 megapixil small HP 3Xoptical zoom. $110.00 6 years ago, I can get a free smart phone from Verizon with 15 megapixels. I know that is nothing. I will try some closeup/macro setting? What is the cheapest camera I could get to “approach” your results besides just put on auto setting without any real adjustments needed? Not having the years of experience you have. I don’t expect a tutorial. I have to do the homework. Practice.
Best Regards
John Thomson, I actually know nothing about cameras so when I decided to buy a better-than-average point-and-shoot the best thing I did was to ask for recommendations from a friend at work who owns a lot of cameras. He recommended Panasonic Lumix. From there it really came down to money. Sorry I can’t be more specific but I really don’t know much about cameras.
Thank you for sharing these.After winter,esp. a particularly awful one like this year,it’s important to be reminded that spring is here and indeed we have May flowers!!!Plus,to get to live vicariously as many of us(or at least myself)are unable to view these things if bound by a busy work,etc.schedule.What gorgeous blue bells-nature is so full of wondrous things
Please continue to share flower photos…