Flowers From A to Z
The flower garden is a riot of color throughout the season and is the place I find a lot of inspiration for other aspects of my life. Scroll down to see more flower images available for purchase, listed alphabetically.
Alstroemeria
Alstroemeria is commonly called the Peruvian Lily or Lily of the Incas. It is a South American genus of about 120 species.
Arctotis
The Arctotis is commonly known as the African Daisy, and is from the family Asteraceae. It is native to southern Africa.
Arctotis #2
Arctotis #3
Arctotis #4
Arctotis #5
Astrantia
Astrantia comes from the Greek word for star in reference to the star-like quality of the flower heads. It is a genus of herbaceous plants in the family Apiaceae.
Astrantia #2
Astrantia #3
Baptisia australis
Baptisia australis, commonly known as False Indigoa, is a genus of about 35 species in the legume family. Blue Wild Indigo is the most well known species and is native to North America, however there are also white and yellow varieties.
Blue Morning Glory
Morning Glory is a common name for over 1,000 species of flowering plants in the family Convolvulaceae. Aztec priests in Mexico were known to use the plant's hallucinogenic properties.
Brunnera macrophylla
Brunneras are treasured for their shade tolerance and early baby-blue forget-me-not like flowers. "Jack Frost" Brunnera has enchanting silvery leaves with green venation and a thin green margin.
Calendula
Calendula has been used tradionally as both a culinary and medicinal herb. The petals are edible and can be used fresh in salads or dried and used to color cheese or as a replacement for saffron.
Calendula #2
Chilean Fire Bush
Chilean Fire Bush, or Embothrium coccineum, is native to Chile as its name suggests. It can reach up to 30 ft and more, although it is generally smaller when grown in the garden. In my garden it attracts an amazing number of hummingbirds!
Chive
The chive, Allium schoenoprasum, is the smallest species of the edible onions. It is the only species of Allium native to both the New and Old World.
Clematis
Clematis is a genus of about 300 species within the buttercup family Ranuncalaceae. Most are woody, climbing vines with exceptionally beautiful flowers.
Clematis #2
Columbine
This unusual looking flower is from the genus Aquilegia, derived from the Latin word aquila, or eagle, because the shape of the flower petals are said to resemble an eagle's claw. This perennial thrives in meadows and woodlands.
Columbine #2
Crocosmia
Crocosmia is a small perennial genus in the iris family Iridaceae, native to the grasslands of Cape Floristic Region, South Africa.
Crocosmia #2
Crocosmia #3
Crocosmia #4
Dandelion
The Dandelion is a herbaceous perennial with long, lance-shaped leaves so deeply toothed it was named in Old French "Dent-de-lion" meaning Lion's Tooth. I prefer to call it "Wishing Flower".
Daylily
Daylilies are perennials from the genus Hemerocallis, from the Greek words hemera "day" and kalos "beautiful. The flowers typically last no more than 24 hours, opening in early morning and withering during the following night.
Daylily #2
Daylily #3
Elecampane
Elecampane, or Inula helenium, is a medicinal perennial prescribed by herbalists today as an expectorant and for water retention. The plant's name, helenium, derives from Helen of Troy, and is said to have sprung up from where her tears fell. It was sacred to the ancient Celts, and once had the name "elfwort".
Elecampane #2
Enkianthus campanulatus
Native to Asia, it is the shape of the flowers that gave this genus its name. Enkianthus combines two Greek words meaning swollen- the connotation is the kind of belly characteristic of pregnancy, and flower, respectively. The fact that they look like little bells names the species- campanulatus is Latin for "bell-shaped".
Foxglove
Digitalis purpurea, or Foxglove, is a short lived perennial in the family Plantaginaceae, native to most of Europe. The leaves, flowers and seeds of this plant are poisonous to humans and some animals and can be fatal if eaten.
Foxglove #2
Gaillardia pulchella
Also known as Indian Blanketflower, the Gaillardia is native to the central United States. It is the state wildflower of Oklahoma.
Gaillardia pulchella #2
Gaillardia pulchella #3
Gaillardia pulchella #4
Ganzania
Native to Southern Africa, Ganzania is in the Asteraceae family and known for its brilliant color and drought tolerance.
Ganzania #2
Geranium
Geranium is a genus of 422 species of flowering annual, biennial and perennial plants commonly known as cranesbills. This one is known as Geranium platypetalum.
Geranium #2
Geum
Commonly called avens, Geum is a gunus of about 50 species of perennial herbaceous plants in the rose family Rosaceae, native to Europe, Asia, North and South America, Africa and New Zealand.
Himalayan Blue Poppy
This striking blue flower is from the genus Meconopsis in the family Papaveraceae. There are 40 or so species found in the Himalayas.
Himalayan Poppy #2
Iris
The Iris takes its name from the Greek word for rainbow, referring to the wide variety of flower colors found among the many species.
Iris #2
Iris #3
Iris #4
Iris #5
Iris #6
Iris #7
Iris #8
Kalmia latifolia
Commonly called Mountain-laurel, Kalmia latifolia is a species of flowering plant in the blueberry family, Ericaceae, and is native to the eastern United States.
Lewisia
Lewisia is a plant genus native to western North America and named for Meriwether Lewis. One of the most spectacular of all alpine plants and are easiest to grown in rock gardens where conditions are similar to their mountainous homeland.
Lewisia #2
Lewisia #3
Lewisia #4
Lily
Lilium is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants growing from bulbs in the family Liliaceae, comprised of about 110 species. This one is Lilium chalcedonicum.
Lily #2
Lupinus
Commonly known as Lupines or Lupins, Lupinus is a genus in the legume family Fabaceae, comprising about 280 species..
Love In A Mist
Nigella damascena, or Love In A Mist, is an annual garden flowering plant, belonging to the buttercup family Ranunculacea. It is also sometimes called Devil In The Bush.
Mullein
Verbascum phoeniceum, or Purple Mullein, has showy blossoms along slender 3-foot spires, and tolerates dry conditions.
Oriental Poppy
Papaver orientale is a perennial native to Caucasus, northeastern Turkey and northern Iran, not the Orient as the name implies.
Oriental Poppy #2
Oriental Poppy #3
Oriental Poppy #4
Oriental Poppy #5
Oriental Poppy #6
Oriental Poppy #7
Oriental Poppy #8
Peony
From the genus Paeonia, the Peony is named after Paeon, a student of Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine and healing. Asclepius became jealous of his pupil, so Zeus saved Paeon from the wrath of Asclepius by turning him into the Peony flower.
Peony #2
Peony #3
Peony #4
Poppy
The flowers of Papaver somniferum are valuable for ornamental purposes as well as for the poppy seeds, which are used for breads as well as the source of poppyseed oil.
Poppy #2
Poppy #3
Poppy #4
Primula
Primula is a large genus of about 500 species. The word primula is the Latin feminine diminutive of primus, meaning first, because they are among the first flowers to open in Spring.
Primula #2
Primula #3
Primula #4
Orchid Primrose
Primula #5
Pulsatilla vulgaris
Pasque flower, or Pulsatilla vulgaris, belongs to the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, and is native to western, central and southern Europe. The flower is cloaked in myth...one legend tells that Pasque flowers sprang up in places that had been soaked by the blood of Romans or Danes because they often appear in old barrows and boundary banks.
Pulsatilla vulgaris #2
Pulsatilla vulgaris seed pods are attractive once the plant is done blooming.
Rose
The Rose is a woody perennial of the genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae. Although best known as ornamental plants and for cut flowers, the rose hip is used as a minor source of Vitamin C and are occasionally made into jams and jellies, or brewed for tea.
Rose #2
Sea Holly
The Sea Holly, or Eryngium maritimum, is a species of Eryngium in the plant family Apiaceae and native to most European coastlines. It is a protected dune plant that is considered endangered, and has even become extinct, in some regions.
Sea Holly #2
Sea Holly #3
Strawberry
A member of the Rosaceae family, the strawberry is a herbaceous perennial.
Sunflower ~ Cinnamon Sun
Who doesn't love sunflowers? They evoke happiness!
Viola
Viola is a genus of flowering plants in the violet family Violaceae. When newly opened, Viola flowers may be used to decorate salads or in stuffings for poultry or fish. The flowers, leaves and roots of some species are used for medicinal purposes, being rich in vitamins A and C, and contain anthocyanin, a type of antioxidant. Viola flowers are also used to make an herbal tea that is used in Chinese herbal medicine.
Zinnia
Zinnia is a genus of 20 species of annual and perennial plants in the family Asteraceae. Their ability to attract hummingbirds is also seen as useful as a defense against whiteflies, therefore zinnias are a desirable companion plant.
Zinnia #2
Zinnia #3
Creatures In The Garden
The garden depends on beneficial insects in order to remain healthy. The garden also provides sustenance for other creatures such as frogs and hummingbirds. Scroll down to see more images available, listed alphabetically.
Bumble Bee
A Bumble Bee is any member of the bee genus Bombus, in the family Apidae, with over 250 known species.
Dragonfly
Dragonflies are valuable predators that eat small insects such as ants, bees, flys, mosquitos, wasps and on a rare occasion, butterflies.
Dragonfly #2
Honey Bee
Worker honeybees are the only bees most people ever see and they are all females that are not sexually developed. They forage for food, build and protect the hive, clean, and circulate air by beating their wings.
Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Ladybug
The Ladybug is not a true bug, but a beetle usually considered beneficial in the garden because of its appetite for aphids or scale insects.
Pacific Tree Frog
The Pacific Tree Frog, or Pseudacris regilla, can be found on the West Coast of the United States from Northern California all the way to British Columbia in Canada. They are the only frogs that go "ribbit".
Pacific Tree Frog #2
Swallowtail Butterfly
Swallowtail butterflies are large, colorful butterflies that form the family Papilionidae, with over 550 species, though mostly tropical. The Oregon Swallowtail butterfly, or Papilio oregonius, was designated the official Oregon State Insect in 1979.
Swallowtail Butterfly #2
Garden Harvest
As well as providing us with fresh organic food, our vegetable gardens are a feast for the eyes, providing an amazing array of jewel tones and color contrast.
Blueberries In The Hand
Can you see my fingerprints on the berries?
Cabbage
Indigo Rose Tomato
Sungold Cherry Tomato
A garden favorite.
2012 Pepper Harvest
Purple Beauty, Ancho, King of the North, Tolli's Sweet Italian, Boldog Paprika, Feher Ozon Paprika, Hungarian Hot Wax, Thai Hot, Bulgarian Carrot, Hot Portugal, Black Hungarian
2011 Harvest
Sweet and Hot Peppers, Tomatoes, Tomatillos and Cucumber
2011 Harvest #2
Sweet and Hot Peppers with Tomatoes, Tomatillos and Turkish Eggplant
2011 Harvest #3
Sweet and Hot Peppers, Tomatoes, Tomatillos and Turkish Eggplant
2011 Harvest #4
Sweet and Hot Peppers, Tomatoes, Tomatillos and Turkish Eggplant
2010 Harvest
Sweet and Hot Peppers, Eggplant, Tomatoes, Tomatillo, Yellow Squash, Apple
Barrett Gardens
I have had the pleasure of photographing the personal gardens of Bryan and Cassandra Barrett in Dexter, Oregon. Photos available in this group were taken in their beautiful gardens, as well as some of the unusual varieties in Flowers From A to Z.
Cottage Garden
English in origin, the cottage garden uses an informal design, dense plantings, and a mixture of ornamental and edible plants.
King's Throne
This was taken at Barrett Gardens on the bank of Lost Creek in beautiful Dexter, Oregon.
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Cinnamon Sun Sunflower ~ My Symbol of Happiness
I am back to work at photography and getting this blog up and running after suffering a stroke one year ago. My life is good after a lot of hard work and patience and more hard work and more patience, then harder work and even more patience, but I never gave up ...ok, I cried a lot, but I never gave up. Reminds me of a song..."You Can Make It If You Try" by Sly and the Family Stone. And it is true...but only if you try. I have been told by some people, when they see how well I'm doing, "You must not have had a very bad stroke"...well, my definition of bad is: I couldn't use my entire right side of my body...couldn't walk, use my hand or arm, the right side of my face was totally numb and that side of my mouth and tongue, and I could not hold it if I had to take a pee. Trying to lift my hand was like willing a spoon to bend. And of course, this meant all that I do was down the tubes...knitting (I am a designer), playing music (I am in a band called The Pears), I sing and play keyboards, and my photography requires two very steady hands to get up so close. Today, almost exactly one year later, I have my life back. I have more work to do with my right hand, but I'm playing piano again, and it will continue to improve. Like the sunflower, I lift my face towards the sun, with eyes closed, feeling the sun's warmth... I'm so happy to be alive. Here is a photo that I took today, I hope it makes you as happy as it does me.
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