Flowers & Other Plants
September 22, 2013
September 19, 2013
September 8, 2013
Another Look at an Orchid and "Let It Rain"
On September 8, I explored the anatomy of a Moth Orchid's bloom, but now I'll just suggest you look at all of the bloom's this one plant has produced. Thanks God for all this beauty and from a plant I barely gave any time to.
Moth Orchid with 10 Blooms, Harrisonburg, VA, USA (20-Sep-13; © Richard L. Bowman)
We finally had some rain yesterday and last night (about 0.6 inch, or 1.5 cm). So I used the opportunity to try and get some photos of rain glistening on some flowers.
Rain on Million Bells, Harrisonburg, VA, USA (21-Sep-13; © Richard L. Bowman)
Rain on Black-eyed Susan Vine, Harrisonburg, VA, USA (21-Sep-13; © Richard L. Bowman)
Sometimes God lets rain come into our lives to bring out our true beauty. What do you think?
September 19, 2013
It Is September, and Flowers Are Still Showing Off!
Although the main show was long over and regardless of the date it is in the summer, I can usually find at least one Stella de Oro day lily in bloom.
Stella de Oro Day Lily Still Bloom, Harrisonburg, VA, USA (16-Sep-13; © Richard L. Bowman)
And the way our flower bed between the driveway and the deck railing is set up, the Stella de Oro blossoms just behind a band of Vinca.
Vinca Plants Are Still Dong Their Stuff, too, Harrisonburg, VA, USA (16-Sep-13; © Richard L. Bowman)
I must note one more plant that has thrown blooms are way all summer--the Black-eyed Susan Vine.
The Black-eyed Susan Vine Is Full of Blooms All Summer Long, Harrisonburg, VA, USA (16-Sep-13; © Richard L. Bowman)
This vine is so prolific with its blooming and grows so generously, it is more a bush than a simple plant!
There are three photos I want to post from my repertoire of two weeks ago. They are of the herbs that Elsie planted this year in a planter on our deck--Parsley, Basil and Thyme.
Herbs: Parsley (front), Basil, and Thyme; Harrisonburg, VA, USA (5-Sep-13; © Richard L. Bowman)
The flowers on the Basil are tiny and interesting.
Close-up of Basil Flowers, Harrisonburg, VA, USA (5-Sep-13; © Richard L. Bowman)
And the crinkliness of the Parsley leaves are beautiful, too.
Close-up of Parsley, Harrisonburg, VA, USA (5-Sep-13; © Richard L. Bowman)
Plants are special with and without flowers!
September 8, 2013
A Closer Look at an Orchid
The Moth Orchid I introduced in my August 29 post has been giving us plenty of images to enthrall over. It now has five blooms at one time.
Moth Orchid with Five Blooms, Harrisonburg, VA, USA (4-Sep-13; © Richard L. Bowman)
A photo of one bloom alone shows clearly a two-fold axis of mirror symmetry and the many adapted parts.
A Single Moth Orchid Bloom, Harrisonburg, VA, USA (4-Sep-13; © Richard L. Bowman)
And a close-up of the center part of the flower shows more clearly the complexity of the reproductive parts of the bloom.
Close-up of the Center of a Moth Orchid, Harrisonburg, VA, USA (4-Sep-13; © Richard L. Bowman)
Below is the photo of one bloom with its basic parts labeled.
Labeled Parts to a Moth Orchid Flower, Harrisonburg, VA, USA (4-Sep-13; © Richard L. Bowman)
With credit to Brian Johnston and his article, 'A Close-up View of a "Moth Orchid" Hybrid,', I'll summarize a few of the features. Please check out Johnston's article for much more detail and excellent close-up photos!
The three sepals have essentially a three-fold rotation symmetry. These are the parts that open first followed by the three petals. The labellum is actually a modified petal that has a "lip" on top of it to guide insects into the throat of the orchid bloom to the yellow platform where the sticky anther cap can attach itself to the insect to be taken to another flower. The column not only has the anther cap with the faint yellow pollen sacs on top, but it also contains the pistil to which the pollen scas from another flower can attach for reproduction to occur.
Johnston's article was first published in the November 2007 edition of Micscape.
September 6, 2013
Creating a Mushroom and Squash Casserole
OK, I'll not be giving a recipe for a casserole, but I will dish up a good helping of photos of mushrooms with some of squash.
The Mushrooms were back in our yard, and this time they were even more plentiful. The photo below shows what looks like the beginning of a "fairy ring." For more info on the "fairy rings," see the Missouri Botanical Garden site on mushrooms in lawns.
A Fairy Ring of Mushrooms, Harrisonburg, VA, USA (4-Sep-13; © Richard L. Bowman)
These Green-Spored Parasol Mushrooms were at various stages of their life-cycle this time as compared to the photos I posted on August 29. In the photo below notice how the button cap begins to outgrow and fracture its outer skin as it matures forming the distinctive effect on the mature cap. The largest caps were about 9 inches (223 cm) across.
My Hand Showing the Size of a Green-Spored Parasol Mushrooms, Harrisonburg, VA, USA (4-Sep-13; © Richard L. Bowman)
Another set of two neighboring mushrooms are shown below.
Two Green-Spored Parasol Mushrooms, Harrisonburg, VA, USA (4-Sep-13; © Richard L. Bowman)
Photographed from below, one can easily see the gills with the distinctive green spores of the Green-Spored Parasol Mushroom.
Underside of the Green-Spored Parasol Mushroom, Harrisonburg, VA, USA (4-Sep-13; © Richard L. Bowman)
As for the squash, our garden has produced a bumper crop of Butternut Squash. The shadow of the weed nearby on the squash below caught my interest.
Butternut Squash, Harrisonburg, VA, USA (4-Sep-13; © Richard L. Bowman)
Regardless of whether there is time enough before the first killing frost, these squash plants are still blooming.
Butternut Squash Blossom, Harrisonburg, VA, USA (4-Sep-13; © Richard L. Bowman)
--©2013, Richard L. Bowman
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