Flower Gazing

Reflections of pansies and dianthus.

Purple Passion

My granddaughter picked this believing it had to be the most beautiful of all flowers.

Lady Foxglove

See the face inside this foxglove bloom? Could it be that fairies do exist?

Rooster Roy

This is one tough rooster. There's absolutely no trespassing in this chicken coop.

Japanese Roof Iris

Iris tectorum.
This charming little plant became known as the Japanese roof iris because that is where it was first observed by a Russian scientist, Carl Maximowicz (1827-1891). He spent three and a half years botanizing in Japan in the early 1860s and introduced numerous Japanese plants to Europe through his base in St. Petersburg.

In China, apparently the original home of the roof iris where it has been grown since at least seventh century, the plant grows on the ground like any sensible iris. But in Japan, it was found growing on the ridges of their thatched roofs.

Apparently this tradition started in Japan because of a decree by a Japanese emperor during a period of wartime when it became illegal to waste land growing flowers. All available land had to be used for rice or vegetables.

The main reason for growing the plant was not for its flowers, but for a white powder that was made by grinding the roots. The makeup used to create the white faces of the Geisha girls was made from the rhizomes. So, the plants moved from the garden to the roofs where it remained until being "discovered" by science.

Blue Denim

One of my favorite butterflies that frequent my garden She's a blue jean girl.

Portrait of a Daisy

I shot a field of daisies then decided to single one out.

John Doe

I've looked at photo after photo of butterfly and moth larvae and cannot id this guy. It's hard to imagine that he could be more beautiful than this in his next stage of life.

The South's Finest

Of all the garden fragrances, the gardenia's gets my vote. The sweet scent, drifting gently throughout the garden is intoxicating. A definite show stopper. And the beautiful white, leathery-petaled bloom is icing on the cake.

Last Job of Day

Bees always hit the hollyhocks just before sundown.