Tuliptree Blossom with Guest

A vibrant green tuliptree flower with a rich yellow center is in full bloom, surrounded by large, lobed leaves. Some sort of insect is nestled in the flower’s petals, possibly collecting nectar or pollen.

Also shown in this photo is one of the tuliptree’s cone-like seed clusters that sit upright on the branches.  The tuliptree is one of the largest native trees in North America. It is a member of the magnolia family and has distinct tulip shaped flowers. The golden-yellow fall color of the tuliptree makes this an excellent choice for large landscapes.

I found this tuliptree in bloom while strolling the grounds at College of the Ozarks, just south of Branson, Missouri.

Getting this shot was not an easy task.  The blooms are up in a tree, well above my head and reach.  To get this image, I employed a monopod.  I extended it the full length, set the camera’s timer and guessed at the focal distance.  Then, after pressing the shutter button to activate the timer, I hoisted the camera above the bloom and waited for the “click” sound.  Then I’d lower it to eye level and look at the result. It took about six or seven attempts to get the correct framing and sharpness.

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