Beauty in the Garden #2
by Bruce Bley
Title
Beauty in the Garden #2
Artist
Bruce Bley
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
This photograph of a violet iris blossoms was taken while visiting afriends flower beds in Rock Falls, Illinois. I enjoy photographing flowers for their colors and intricate and delicate detail. This iris with the remains of dew drops had the sun shinning on it. The iris had wonderful detail and beautiful values.
Iris is a genus of 260-300 species of flowering plants with showy flowers. It takes its name from the Greek word for a rainbow, referring to the wide variety of flower colors found among the many species, as well as, being the scientific name, iris is also very widely used as a common name for all Iris species, though some plants called thus belong to other closely related genera. A common name for some species is 'flags', while the plants of the subgenus Scorpiris are widely known as 'junos', particularly in horticulture. It is a popular garden flower.
Irises are perennial plants, growing from creeping rhizomes (rhizomatous irises) or, in drier climates, from bulbs (bulbous irises). They have long, erect flowering stems which may be simple or branched, solid or hollow, and flattened or have a circular cross-section. The rhizomatous species usually have 3-10 basal sword-shaped leaves growing in dense clumps. The bulbous species have cylindrical, basal leaves.
The inflorescences are fan-shaped and contain one or more symmetrical six-lobed flowers. These grow on a pedicel or lack a footstalk. The three sepals, which are spreading or droop downwards, are referred to as "falls". They expand from their narrow base, which in some of the rhizomatous irises has a "beard" (a tuft of short upright extensions growing in its midline), into a broader expanded portion ("limb"), often adorned with veining, lines or dots. The three, sometimes reduced, petals stand upright, partly behind the sepal bases. They are called "standards". Some smaller iris species have all six lobes pointing straight outwards, but generally limb and standards differ markedly in appearance. They are united at their base into a floral tube that lies above the ovary (known as an epigynous or inferior ovary). The styles divide towards the apex into petaloid branches; this is significant in pollination.
The iris flower is of interest as an example of the relation between flowering plants and pollinating insects. The shape of the flower and the position of the pollen-receiving and stigmatic surfaces on the outer petals form a landing-stage for a flying insect, which in probing for nectar, will first come into contact with the perianth, then with the stigmatic stamens in one whorled surface which is borne on an ovary formed of three carpels. The shelf-like transverse projection on the inner whorled underside of the stamens is beneath the overarching style arm below the stigma, so that the insect comes in contact with its pollen-covered surface only after passing the stigma; in backing out of the flower it will come in contact only with the non-receptive lower face of the stigma. Thus, an insect bearing pollen from one flower will, in entering a second, deposit the pollen on the stigma; in backing out of a flower, the pollen which it bears will not be rubbed off on the stigma of the same flower.
I hope you have enjoyed this photograph and will share it with others. You can see more of my work on my homepage in the various galleries I have created. Thank you for visiting and please come back.
Uploaded
June 8th, 2016
Statistics
Viewed 585 Times - Last Visitor from Fairfield, CT on 04/20/2024 at 11:53 AM
Embed
Share
Sales Sheet
Comments (23)
rdm-Margaux Dreamations
gorgeous ! Fav/Tw/G+
Bruce Bley replied:
Thank you rdm-Margaux Dreamations. I appreciate the kind comment and promotions.
Bruce Bley
Frozen in Time Fine Art Photography, I want to thank you for the feature in the group "New FAA uploads limit one per day". Thank you for the honor.
Bruce Bley
Nader, Thank you for the feature in the group "Fine Arts Professionals". I truly appreciate the honor and thank you for your support.
Bruce Bley
Maria, I am very grateful for the feature in the group "Exquisite Florals". Thank you for the honor.
Dominique Fortier
Again, all about elegance and beauty, Bruce! l/f/v
Bruce Bley replied:
Thank you for the kind and gracious compliment, Dominique. I sincerely appreciate it.
Bruce Bley
Joanna, I sincerely appreciate the feature in the group "All About Nature And The Animals". Thank you for the honor.
Shirley Kathan-Sayess
Lovely capture, Bruce. Congratulations on being featured on Floral Throw Pillows Group this week. L+F
Bruce Bley replied:
Thank you so much for the nice comment and feature in the group "Floral Throw Pillows", Shirley. I sincerely appreciate the honor.
Lois Bryan
Bruce this is a beauty ... lovely colors and I like the way you've composed this one. Very well done!! l/f
Jean OKeeffe Macro Abundance Art
Congratulations for the feature of your artwork on the homepage of Greeting Cards For All Occasions 6-8-16, Liked!
Bruce Bley replied:
Jean, I am very grateful for the feature in the group "Greeting Cards For All Occasions. I appreciate the honor.