Beauty in the Garden
by Bruce Bley
Title
Beauty in the Garden
Artist
Bruce Bley
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
This macro shot of a white and yellow iris was taken while visiting a friend and her flower garden last spring.
Iris is a genus of 260�300[1][2] 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.[3] 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
March 15th, 2014
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Viewed 1,992 Times - Last Visitor from Houston, TX on 03/28/2024 at 10:16 PM
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Comments (67)
Jenny Rainbow
Congratulations on being featured with this wonderful artwork on home page of Iris Exquisite Beauty group and pinned to the Pinterest board Iris Exquisite beauty!
Bruce Bley replied:
Jenny, I am grateful for the feature in the group "Iris Exquisite Beauty", I appreciate the honor.
Bruce Bley
Frozen in Time Fine Art Photography, Thank you again for the feature in the group "Your Very Best Photography". I appreciate the honor.
Bruce Bley
Darren, I want to thank you for the feature in the group "Flower Art 3 A Day". I appreciate the honor.
Bruce Bley
Doug, I am grateful for the feature in the group "Canon Full Frame Cameras". Thank you for the honor.
Bruce Bley
Doug, I want to thank you for the feature in the group "Canon Full Frame Camera". I sincerely appreciate it.
Bruce Bley
Darren, I am grateful for the feature in the group "Flower Art 3 A Day". Thank you so much.
Bruce Bley
David, I am grateful for the feature in the group Midwest America Photography". Thank you so much.
Christopher James
One of your peers nominated this image in the 1000 views Groups nominated images by your fellow artist in the Special Features #5 promotion discussion. Please visit and pass on the love to another artist.
Bruce Bley
Jenn, Thank you again for the feature in the group "Bath and Spa Prints". I truly appreciate it.
Bruce Bley
Maria, Thank you so much for the feature in the group "Exquisite Flowers". I sincerely appreciate it.
Bruce Bley
Romuald, I want to thank you for the feature in the group "Arts Fantastic World". Thank you so much.
Bruce Bley
Lilia, I also want to thank you for the feature in the group "Macro World". Thank you again. I sincerely appreciate it.
Bruce Bley
Lilia, I sincerely appreciate the feature in the group "Fine Nature Photography". Thank you for the honor and your support.
Lisa Phillips
Your beautiful work has been featured in the FAA group "Thoughts of Flowers". http://fineartamerica.com/groups/thoughts-of-flowers.html
Bruce Bley replied:
Lisa, I sincerely appreciate the feature in the group "Thoughts of Flowers". Thank you for the honor.
Bruce Bley
Jasna, I am very grateful for the feature in the group "Global Flowers Photography". Thank you very much.