Flower
Ladies Dancing
In my mind, the blooms of this fuchsia plant remind me of beautiful ladies dancing – arms raised, skirts twirling and a wry smile on their faces.
I discovered this fuchsia plant (and a few other varieties) at the West of the Lake Gardens in Manitowoc, WI. The fuchsia is a very unique plant species.
According to Wikipedia…
Fuchsia /ˈfjuːʃə/ is a genus of flowering plants that consists mostly of shrubs or small trees. The first, Fuchsia triphylla, was discovered on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola (present day Dominican Republic and Haiti) about 1696–1697 by the French Minim monk and botanist, Charles Plumier during his third expedition to the Greater Antilles. He named the new genus after the renowned German botanist Leonhart Fuchs (1501–1566).
There are currently almost 110 recognized species of Fuchsia. The vast majority are native to South America. The fruit of all fuchsia species and cultivars is edible, with the berry of F. splendens reportedly among the best-tasting. Its flavor is reminiscent of citrus and pepper, and it can be made into jam. The fruits of some other fuchsias are flavorless or leave a bad aftertaste.
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Poolside Perch
An American Goldfinch (male) clings to a stalk from a blooming hosta while eyeing the refreshing waters of the garden birdbath. The bright yellow summer plumage makes him a standout.
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Hostas in Bloom
I always forget how beautiful the humble hosta plant’s flowers are…until they bloom in abundance. This is an example from the flowerbed in our back yard.
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Floral Salad
In a large flower pot, my wife has assembled a wonderful variety of color and form. I think it’s an appetizing arrangement that looks good enough to eat – a huge floral salad.
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A Flair for the Dramatic
This wildflower seems to have a touch of graceful sophistication in its “wild.” A few of these beauties popped up on the edge of our property this summer. This bloom was the only one that demonstrated this particular flair for the dramatic.
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Daisy Delight
They say life’s simple pleasures are the best. I submit the simple daisy as supporting evidence.
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Budding Artist
These wildflowers were found on a hike through the woods. It looks like plenty of blooms were in its future.
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Lilac Euphoria
This is an image from early spring…when the lilac bush was in full, fragrant bloom. We have a couple of lilac bushes in our yard. Just walking by them, when they are in bloom, is a sensory treat.
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Captivating Beauty
This rose may be one of the most beautiful flowers I’ve ever photographed. It is not perfect or without blemish, but there’s something about its soft blush of pink and the gentle furl of its delicate petals that captivates me; makes it difficult to look away. I snapped a lot of frames of this bloom over a couple of days. (Please excuse my gushing. I understand, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and it may not have the same effect on everyone.)
I found this beauty in, of all places, the small flowerbed of a motel in Branson, Missouri – the Yellow Rose Inn & Suites. They had a nice variety of blooming flowers around the property but, ironically, there were no yellow roses.
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Liberal Supply of Bleeding Hearts
The bleeding hearts were in top form last weekend when I snapped this shot in my wife’s flowerbed.
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