Dan Violette photography - Fine Art Nature Photography
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Parrot's beak (Lotus berthelotii) blossom close-up. This plant is native to Tenerife, largest of the Canary Islands, where it has long been considered an endangered species. Its attractive silvery green needle-like trailing foliage and brilliant scarlet-hued flame-like 1.5 inch flowers make this plant a sought-after exotic. This image was made with a 100 mm macro lens.
Columbine (Aquilegia species) flowers are native to higher altitudes of North America, Europe and Asia with more than 60 naturally occurring species in various shades of yellow, red, blue, pink, white and purple. The bell shaped flowers, favored by hummingbirds, have petals modified into a long nectar-rich spur. They are easily propagated from seed which, like the plant's roots, are highly toxic. This image was made with a 100 mm macro lens.
Pitcher plant (Sarracenia hybrid) flowers. Sarracenia species number about a dozen in North America and are well adapted to sunny wetlands and poor acidic soil. Bees are the primary pollinators of the pendant flowers. Seed capsules can take nearly six months to mature and release their hundreds of seeds. Graceful flowers belie the carnivorous nature of these plants. The lip serves as a landing pad for flying insects that are ultimately tempted by the nectar glands on the underside of the lip - positioned directly over the long hollow tubular leaves (several visible in this photograph). Insects that fall from the lid struggle against the inner waxy surface and are directed toward the base of the narrowing leaves. Insects attempt to escape impending death but few can overcome the downward pitch of plant hairs nor can they fly straight up the narrow vertical interior where they bump against the inner leaf walls, falling repeatedly into a water bath where the clever pitcher plant produces a wetting agent that reduces wing effectiveness - and where digestive enzymes help the plant extract nutrients from captured prey.
Columbine (Aquilegia species) flowers are native to higher altitudes of North America, Europe and Asia with more than 60 naturally occurring species in various shades of yellow, red, blue, pink, white and purple. The bell shaped flowers, favored by hummingbirds, have petals modified into a long nectar-rich spur. They are easily propagated from seed which, like the plant's roots, are highly toxic. Looking closely reveals two tiny insects enjoying this flower.
Parrot's beak (Lotus berthelotii) in full bloom. This plant is native to Tenerife, largest of the Canary Islands, where it has long been considered an endangered species. Its attractive silvery green needle-like trailing foliage and brilliant scarlet-hued flame-like 1.5 inch flowers make this plant a sought-after exotic.
Giant coreopsis (Coreopsis gigantea) share this exposed coastal slope with coast prickly pear cactus (Opunita sp.), California bush sunflower (Encelia californica) and wild grass companions. This early Spring bloom was photographed at the northern edge of the Santa Monica Mountains near Point Mugu State Park, Ventura County, California.
Cattleya intermedia, 'Irrorota'. This fragrant orchid, native to Brazil and Argentina, boasts five inch flowers ranging widely in color from light lavender to dark pink, and generally with a purple lip. This particular clone is unusually light colored. Maximum print size 8x10 inches.
Pitcher plant (Sarracenia hybrid) flowers. Sarracenia species number about a dozen in North America and are well adapted to sunny wetlands and poor acidic soil. Bees are the primary pollinators of the pendant flowers. Seed capsules can take nearly six months to mature and release their hundreds of seeds. Graceful flowers belie the carnivorous nature of these plants. The lip serves as a landing pad for flying insects that are ultimately tempted by the nectar glands on the underside of the lip - positioned directly over the long hollow tubular leaves (several visible in this photograph). Insects that fall from the lid struggle against the inner waxy surface and are directed toward the base of the narrowing leaves. Insects attempt to escape impending death but few can overcome the downward pitch of plant hairs nor can they fly straight up the narrow vertical interior where they bump against the inner leaf walls, falling repeatedly into a water bath where the clever pitcher plant produces a wetting agent that reduces wing effectiveness - and where digestive enzymes help the plant extract nutrients from captured prey.
Cattlyea violacea. This beautiful South American orchid species features flat rose-purple flowers to 4.5-inches across. The lip is rose to red-purple with a white base marked with yellow.
Giant coreopsis (Coreopsis gigantea) share this exposed coastal slope with coast prickly pear cactus (Opunita sp.), California bush sunflower (Encelia californica) and wild grass companions. This early Spring bloom was photographed at the northern edge of the Santa Monica Mountains near Point Mugu State Park, Ventura County, California.
Giant coreopsis (Coreopsis gigantea) share this exposed coastal slope with coast prickly pear cactus (Opunita sp.), California bush sunflower (Encelia californica) and wild grass companions. This early Spring bloom was photographed at the northern edge of the Santa Monica Mountains near Point Mugu State Park, Ventura County, California.
Giant coreopsis (Coreopsis gigantea) share this exposed coastal slope with coast prickly pear cactus (Opunita sp.), California bush sunflower (Encelia californica) and wild grass companions. This early Spring bloom was photographed at the northern edge of the Santa Monica Mountains near Point Mugu State Park, Ventura County, California.
See photo in original gallery.
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