The day started with light fog and a slight mist but no breeze which makes for a happy flower photographer. My first stop was to look for lady’s slippers and more painted trilliums in Shutesbury which was moderately successful. Plenty of PTs and just one LS. Tomorrow I’ll look in another location for more lady’s slippers. I decided that I was done for the morning and started toward my usual Saturday errands when I noticed a large field of non-native ragged robins in Hadley on Mill Site Road. While looking at them I noticed, right at my feet, this nice dewy, or misty, Blue Flag Iris-Iris versicolor intimate landscape.
Of course shopping was put on hold while I enjoyed making an image. I’ll share at least one of the painted trilliums tomorrow.
Stephen Gingold Nature Photography Blog 
The grass stem that worked its way up through the flower is a fun touch. The upper portion looks rather like a Christmas tree, and that dewy strand of silk looks like someone’s only half-decorated the ‘tree.’ I like the asymmetry that one strand provides, and the interesting patterns in the iris’s petals.
The thought of a band of ragged robins roaming the grass amused me, until I figure out the name belonged to plants rather than to bedraggled birds who’d had a hard migration.
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In April we do have quite a number of bedraggled robins showing up. They fill lawns until acclimated and setting off on their own to find a mate and nest. But these are a bit different although despite their numbers they don’t really earn the description invasive, at least in my opinion, as they don’t really crowd anything out and once the flower fades you don’t even know they are there. We have a couple that showed up next to our compost bin and their numbers have stayed steady over the years.
I almost missed this as it was somewhat hidden by taller grass and ferns from where I was looking at the larger group of flowers.Walking a bit revealed it and I couldn’t resist.
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Bejeweled! Lovely image, Steve. I went to High Ledges today to look for orchids, but found none. I felt disappointed and wondered if they were stolen, a terrible thought. A trail’s name (LS) that they used to be on has been changed to ‘Woodthrush.” Not a good sign.
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Thanks, Eliza. The only orchids I have seen on that Lady’s Slipper Trail in the past were pink lady’s slippers. I know there are supposed to be other species of orchids near the swampy area but I’ve not seen them. The other yellows that I’ve seen are along the Barnard Trail (which the trail mentioned hooks up to) as well as some pinks. I’ve seen Yellow Lady’s Slippers on Mount Norwottuck and in someone’s front yard here in Amherst.
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Magical! I’m so glad you were there to capture the moment Steve!
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Thanks, Liz. Sometimes the best things are those which are unexpected. This definitely was my favorite of the morning despite the others being Painted Trilliums. 🙂
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Wow.. that’s really neat Steve!
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Rainy days make the flower photographer happy. I can feel your happiness in this photo, Steve.
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Thanks, Peter. It was a wonderful surprise to find.
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Oh what a treat! We have Iris virginiacum here, which I love too. Nice to see another species, beautifully photographed.
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Thanks, Melissa. This, I believe, is our one native iris in Western Mass.
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I think it is pretty cool how there are subtle differences in species across the miles. I wish I were a better photographer so I could share with you the plants I see here.
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I’d be happy to see any image you’d make of them.
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Now that I’m feeling better I’ll try to get some posted.
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Oh that is good news, Melissa. Keep it going in the feeling better direction. ❤
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Thank you Steve, I will! I think the worst is behind me, thank goodness and pretty soon I can stop wearing a hat 🙂
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So it’s your skin on your head? I’ve been dealing with some precancers. Dabbing some fluorouracil on my nose and forehead. Made me even uglier for a while but took care of the spots. I am wearing sunblock hats by Coolibar most of the time now. I’ve worn hats most of the time anyway even while working so it was easy making the change.
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Oh, sorry. No, breast cancer but the chemo took my hair. It is slooowwwwlllly growing back, thank goodness. Still thin enough so I need to wear a hat. A friend of mine has to put that stuff on her face from time to time. So far I’ve been lucky in that regard but probably just a matter of time. I’m glad there is a hat with sunblock in it. That is pretty cool!
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I am not sure there is a good cancer but I’d rather have to deal with a carcinoma than breast cancer. I am so glad that yours is going into remission and hope you are able to keep it that way. There are shirts with sunblock as well and Mary Beth has a couple.
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Exquisite how you embraced the light fog and mist in this floral arrangement, Steve.
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Thanks, Jet. It was a nice end to the shoot and just in time before the temperature rose to quite warm.
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Glad you got out and made something yesterday. I got lazy and didn’t venture out. It happens sometimes. 🙂
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It does. I didn’t get out this morning although not sleeping very well last night was a good excuse. 🙂
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Water drops on flowers never gets old. Beautiful composition.
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Thanks, Alessandra. I agree and am always happy to find dewy plants….or insects.
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Beautiful Image Steve!!
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Thanks, Reed!
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