Raining Iris
by Bruce Bley
Title
Raining Iris
Artist
Bruce Bley
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
This photograph of a purple iris blossoms was taken while visiting a friends flower garden in Rock Falls, Illinois. I enjoy photographing flowers for their colors and intricate and delicate detail. This iris with the morning raindrops on it had wonderful detail and 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
May 20th, 2016
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Viewed 1,461 Times - Last Visitor from White Plains, NY on 03/28/2024 at 4:55 PM
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Comments (47)
Jenny Rainbow
Congratulations on being featured with this wonderful artwork on home page of the group Iris Exquisite Beauty!
Bruce Bley replied:
Thank you for the feature in the group "Iris Exquisite Beauty", Jenny. I sincerely appreciate the honor.
Luther Fine Art
Congratulations! Your fantastic photographic art has been chosen as a Camera Art Group feature! You are invited to archive your work in the Features Archive discussion as well as any other discussion in which it would fit!
Christopher James
One of your peers nominated this image in the 1000 views Groups nominated images by your fellow artist in the Special Features #12 promotion discussion. Please visit and pass on the love to another artist.
Bruce Bley
Doug, Thank you so much for the feature in the group "Canon Full Frame Cameras". I sincerely appreciate the honor.
Bruce Bley
Julie, I m grateful for the feature in the group "Your Story of Art". I sincerely appreciate it.
Sharon Nelson-Bianco
Hi Bruce, beautiful purple iris - love the title too. Great work. Best regards, Sharon
Marilyn Nolan-Johnson
So pretty, great macro, got my vote! l/f/p
Bruce Bley replied:
Thank you for the wonderful compliment and vote, Marilyn. I truly appreciate it.
Bruce Bley
Tanjica . I am very grateful for the feature in the group "Nature as Abstract Artists". I sincerely appreciate the honor.
Robyn King
So gorgeous!!
Bruce Bley replied:
I am glad you enjoyed this work, Robyn. Thank you for your continued support of my work.
Bruce Bley
Doug, Thank you so much for the feature in the group "Iris". I sincerely appreciate the honor.
Bruce Bley
Frozen In Time Fine Art Photography, I am very grateful for the feature in the group "New FAA Uploads Limit One Per Day. Thank you for the honor.
Bruce Bley
Barbie, I am very grateful for the feature in the group "The 200 Club - Best Photos With Over 200 Views Up To 500". Thank you so much for the honor.
Bruce Bley
Johanna, I am very grateful for the feature in the group "All About Nature And The Animals". Thank you for the honor.
Bruce Bley
David, Thank you for the feature in the group "Midwest America Photography". I sincerely appreciate it.
Chrisann Ellis
Bruce, Your Work has been Featured On The Home Page of Weekly Fun For All Mediums...Congrats!!! Stunning beauty!!...vt.fv
Bruce Bley replied:
Chrisann, Thank you so much for the feature in the group "Weekly Fun For All Mediums Joy". I appreciate the honor.