I find the Canada Lily (Lilium canadense) a spectacular plant. Sometimes it can be found with as many as a dozen lovely blooms hanging pendulously from its tall stem. The slightest of breezes can cause long waits for a motionless subject, but who can complain about having to sit and stare at such beauty.
I am fortunate to have a meadow close at hand, the Brickyard Conservation Area, with several of these flowers although the meadow is quite overgrown with all sorts of shrubs and other tall plants. It is also overgrown at ground level with poison ivy. Lots of poison ivy.
A few days ago, I found this one bud with a great background that I hoped would be in full bloom the next time I visited.
Plans don’t always work out. Someone could decide to dine on the bud. I could go elsewhere and return when too late….the most common consequence of being easily distracted by, say, Wahconah Falls after a heavy rain event. 🙂
But the stars were with me and on Sunday I hit the jackpot.
I caught that just as the sun was peeking over the trees. Although a bit strong, I like the intense warmth of the light on the orange petals. I made sure the anthers were well lit with a small reflector held just below the flower.
Walking around, there were many blooms and buds. This one seemed to be having a hard time facing the new day.
I hope you enjoyed this look at the Canada Lily. I did hang one from a few years back in the exhibit and that will show up at some point when I manage to put together a post with the displayed images.
Stephen Gingold Nature Photography Blog 
Truly spectacular bloom, Steve and your timing was perfect. I think we get cultivated versions here. The background sets it off so well – who needs a waterfall, eh? Frame it!
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Thanks, Andrew. I was fortunate with the timing and finding a bloom with such an advantageous background. It would have looked quite nice on an overcast day, but I really like the effect that warm sunlight has on these flowers. The one on display is in similar light.
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You certainly did hit the jackpot! It must be a great feeling when everything falls into place – I know it doesn’t always happen but this time it did and what a stupendous image. I really like the dark background, it sets off the colour and light of the flower so well.
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Thanks, Lottie. Yes, it certainly did feel good when I saw the flower and realized my plan. So many things, well actually just a few, could have gone wrong. I try to find flowers, and other subjects like moths, against a naturally dark background. I don’t carry anything to fake one…although I do carry a piece of black velvet with me but that is for another purpose. This is about as good as it can be.
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I like lilies. I have a very beautiful one in my back yard. It is about to bloom. For the past few years, deer have eaten off the buds. Not this year. I encased the entire clump of flowers in a cage of chicken wire with a lid of wire. Perhaps I should electrify it. 🙂
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Haha, yeah, that would probably help!
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A cage does take a little away from the beauty, but being digested takes away even more. I am not sure if it works for deer, but we use coyote urine to keep varmints away from our berry bushes and other gardens. Nope! I don’t collect it myself. 🙂
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I can relate to the one that didn’t want to face the day 🙂 Really love the way you captured this, with the warmly dark background.
In my garden I am watching Turk’s cap lily buds getting ready to open. Blissful lilies!
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We have some oriental lilies in the garden as well as a variety of day lilies. Deer have not been a problem but the red lily leaf beetle (Lilioceris lilii) can decimate the leaves as well as the flowers.
I am fortunate that this meadow is situated so I can find the lilies every year with the warm sun hitting them. Unless it is raining. 🙂
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My favorite is the last photo. I didn’t see it as reluctant to face the day, as much as giving a “come hither” look to the photographer lurking around. A flirtatious flower! Who knew?
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Flirtatious, I believe, is another word for flower. Their whole life is about sex. Not like us humans who pay it little heed. 😉
That last one was the only flower/bud in the whole field that wasn’t either open or shut. I imagine it is not uncommon for the petals to open unsynchronistically, but one’s timing needs to be right and mine was in tune to the sun and not the petal popping.
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Beautiful images Steve !!
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Thanks, Bernie.
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Nice going with your Canada lily, which fortunately is native in New England as well—and even better in a meadow close to you. When I visited the Berkshires two years ago, the Canada lily was one native plant I managed to find and photograph.
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This seems to be a banner year for them. I am seeing lots of Canada Lily images on Facebook and I’ve seen many more this year than the previous two years in the meadow I visit.
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I expect you’ll keep profiting from their abundance while you can.
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Steve you are a photographic virtuoso. All of your flower pics are striking and this one especially has glorious color. Yes, “indeedy” by all means frame this one and put out there for sale.
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Thanks very much, Yvonne. I appreciate your enthusiastic comment. 🙂
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