Nature Photography by Richard L. Bowman

March 28, 2017

Is It Late Winter or Early Spring?

Since I last posted in the middle of February, I have collected a good swarm of more winter and early spring flowers. Last time I presented a mystery flower which was later identified my my nephew's wife, Peggy Brubaker as Chickweed. So my first group is of Chickweed.

A. Chickweed

a close shot of Chickweed

A Patch of Chickweed Getting Ready to Bloom (22-Mar-17; © Richard L. Bowman)

Chickweed in bloom

Chickweed Patch in Bloom (24-Mar-17; © Richard L. Bowman)

a closer look at a Chickweed flower

Chickweed Flowers Close Up (25-Mar-17; © Richard L. Bowman)

a wide-angle shot of the mass of Chickweed

Large Patch of Chickweed Growing by the Side Porch of Our House (24-Mar-17; © Richard L. Bowman)

B. Persian Speedwell and Henbit Flowers

a group of Persian Speedwell fkiwers

Lovely Blue Flowers of Persian Speedwell (21-Feb-17;© Richard L. Bowman)

close-up of Persian Speedwell

Close-up of One Half-inch Persian Speedwell Flower (23-Feb-17; © Richard L. Bowman)

Our new next-door neighbor is from Iraq, so I will have to ask him about the Persian Speedwell flower. I know that he enjoyed photographing wildflowers back in Iraq. Yesterday we talked about his grilling of chicken for the lunchtime meal. I will have to try his recipe.

our neighbor from Iraq

Next-door Neighbor from Iraq Grilling Chicken (27-Mar-17; © Richard L. Bowman)

Another wildflower I have not known until I got this camera and looked at small wildflowers is the Henbit plant. I need to do some more investigating of its growth and flowering.

Henbit plant in bloom

Henbit Plant and Buds Beginning to Flower (2-Mar-17; © Richard L. Bowman)

C. Evergreen Shrubs

Holly comes in male and female shrubs. Both are needed close to each other in order for the female plant to bear berries. I think this is a female bush because I once saw berries on it (if my memory is working well), but there are definitely no berries this year.

Holly

American Holly Bush (12-Feb-17; © Richard L. Bowman)

Our Camellia bush has now been established for a number of years on the slight grade along one side of our front porch. It usually blooms well in the fall, but now it only has buds and some fungus (which I need to get rid of) on its leaves.

Camellia bud

Camellia Flower Bud Will Bloom Next Fall (22-Mar-17; © Richard L. Bowman)

D. More Dried Seed Heads

It is intriguing to me that a number of flowering shrubs and plants keep their seeds or seed husks over winter. Sedum is one such plant, and yet with the coming of spring I will collect all of the dried stalks and seed heads and dispose of them. Anyway, it is fun to see these dried visuals for beauty.

dried Sedum seed head

Sedum Seed Heads(12-Feb-17; © Richard L. Bowman)(12-Feb-17; © Richard L. Bowman)

Seed hall of a Hibiscus bloom

Seed Hulls Remain on an Hibiscus Stalk(12-Feb-17; © Richard L. Bowman)(12-Feb-17; © Richard L. Bowman)

Sycamore fruit

In Evening Light a Common Grackle Sits High in a Sycamore Tree amidst Its Fruit (7-Mar-17; © Richard L. Bowman)

Sycamore fruit in daytime

Sycamore Fruit in Bright Daylight(8-Mar-17; © Richard L. Bowman)(8-Mar-17; © Richard L. Bowman)

E. Purple Deadnettle

Growing to 4 inches (10 cm) or a bit more, the Purple Deadnettle plant abounds on our lawn in shallow areas where grass is not well establisheed. The flowers are on the order of 1/8 to 1/4 inch (3-6 mm) across.

Purple Deadnettle plants and flowers

The Purple Top Leaves Show Clearly on a Few Purple Deadnettle (22-Mar-17; © Richard L. Bowman)

10 Purple Deadnettles against a large boulder

A Group of Purple Deadnettle Near a Boulder in Our Former Garden (25-Mar-17; © Richard L. Bowman)

close view of a single Purple Deadnettle plant and flowers

Close-up of One Purple Deadnettle Plants Showing Flower in Detail(25-Mar-17; © Richard L. Bowman)-Mar-17; © Richard L. Bowman)

a ring of Purple Deadnettles around a Persian Speedwell flower

Ring of Purple Deadnettle Plants Surround a Persian Speedwell Flower(25-Mar-17; © Richard L. Bowman)(25-Mar-17; © Richard L. Bowman)

F. Domesticated Flowers from Bulbs

yellow Crocuses

Crocuses Blooming in Landisville, PA, USA (28-Feb-17; © Richard L. Bowman)

Grape Hyacinth

Grape Hyacinths in Our Rock Garden (25-Mar-17; © Richard L. Bowman)

Daffodils

Clump of Dandelion Blooms Against Our Re-done Front Lawn (10-Mar-17; © Richard L. Bowman)

Daffodil close up

Close-up of One Daffodil Bloom (10-Mar-17; © Richard L. Bowman)

G. Wild Plants that Propagate through Aerial Dispersion

Common Dandelion

Common Groundsel

I tried capturing a Common Groundsel flower but have yet to do so. This gives me one more goal to attempt to readch.

close view of Common Groundsel buds and seed head

H. Flowering Ornamental Plum Tree

As happens every year since we planted it (20 years ago, plus or minus a few!), the Ornamental Plum tree off of the edge of our deck gives us many branches loaded with beautiful flowers. Here are just two examples.

Ornamental Plum tree blooms

Ornamental Plum blossoms on a sunny day

I. "Christmas" Cactus at Easter

Last week we were moving things to get ready for the person to come and clean our living room carpet. Elsie brought out our Christmas cactus which has bloomed so lovely from the middle of November through the end of January

Christmas Cactus in bloom in March

close-up of a blooming Christmas Cactus in March

Since I had not posted them before, here are pictures of our Christmas Cactus in bloom over the Advent season.

Christmas cactus in bloom

a daytime photo of our Christmas Cactus

I just enjoy the beauty of flowers in their many seasons. Hope you have also.

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