Some Wonderful Hibiscus Blossoms

I don’t know about anyone else – but I’ve had enough of winter this year. I’m getting tired of the snow and gray skies. In case anyone else is ready for something bright and tropical, I decided to share a few of the hibiscus photos I’ve taken in the past few months.

I just love hibiscus flowers. The bright colors always remind me of summer.

Hibiscus are members of the Mallow family (Malvaceae family). They are an ornamental tropical plant native to East Asia. The sepals of Hibiscus sabdariffa are often used in herbal teas (Thanks to @rachidH on Twitter for the additional info). In the language of flowers, hibiscus flowers symbolize delicate beauty.

All of these flowers are hibiscus rosa -sinensis, which is not only the state flower of Hawaii, but also the national flower of Malaysia.

I love the bright orange color of the Caleb Hibiscus. There aren’t many flowers in this shade of orange.

Caleb Hibiscus (c) 2010 Patty Hankins

I’ve photographed the Jason Hibiscus several times before. Each time I see one, I just have to smile. I love the combination of yellow, red and soft pink in this flower.

Jason Hibiscus (c) 2010 Patty Hankins

Painted Lady Hibiscus are a wonderful shade of pink.

Painted Lady Hibiscus (c) 2009 Patty Hankins

The shape of the petals and the length of the pistil and stamens of the Snow Queen Hibiscus really caught my eye.

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

And finally a hibiscus that I haven’t been able to identify the variety. I love the shades of pink and shape of this flower. Does anyone happen to know what it is?

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

Links – February 26, 2010

Ox-Eye Daisies (c) 2009 Patty Hankins

Lots of links this week – hope you enjoy them

Photography Links

LightStalking has 5 Ways to Improve Your Photography Without Spending More Money,

BBCNews has First Images from NASA’s Wise Infrared Sky Probe,

Photo Business News and Forum has Digital Photo Rights- Don’t Just Give Away the Farm

Thoughts of a Bohemian has Share It

Method to Mayhem has On-line Copyright Infringement: 4 Ways to Remove Your Stolen Works

An Ecelectic Mind has How to Make Everyone Think You’re a Great Photographer

Guy Tal has On Fine Art Photography

Barney Davey has What is the “Hot Color” Trend for 2010

PhotoAttorney has Important News for Photographers

Virtual Photography Studio has When Do I Need a Model Release?

Dan Williams has When You Least Expect It

Photowalk DC is organizing an Early Morning Cherry Blossom Photowalk on April 10 (subject to change depending on when the cherry blossoms bloom)

National Park and Wildlife Refuge Links

National Parks Traveler has Entrance Fees Generate Hundreds of Millions of Dollars for the NPS, Hikes Abound in Great Smoky Mountains National Park,  America the Beautiful Federal Lands Pass: How’s the Revenue Flow?,and Ban on Outside Firewood Brought Into Shenandoah National Park Begins March 1

Refuge Watch has USFWS Prepares for End to Gun Ban

Gardening and Flower Links

Christian Science Monitor has Garden Trends: What’s In and Out for 2010,

Garden Variety has Philadelphia Flower Show,

The Philadelphia Flower Show website has all the info you need for visiting the show

Wildlife Links

BBCNews has Critically Endangered Sumatran Rhino Expecting Calf, and Rare Indian Wild Cats Caught on Film

Center for Biodiversity has Obama Administration Proposes Budget Cuts for Endangered Species

WHSV TV has White Nose Syndrome Confirmed in WV

National Parks Traveler has Cape Cod National Seashore Plan to Protect Piping Plovers by Killing Some Crows Not Welcomed by All

Environmental Issues Links

MSNBC has Pollution Problem Looms From Discarded CRT’s

Newsweek has Debunking Lomborg, The Climate-Change Skeptic

Yale Environment 360 has An Ominous Warning on the Effects of Ocean Acidification

Savannah Sunrise

Last Sunday morning I spent another magical morning at the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge. I was in the area for the Springtime Made in the South show, and since the show didn’t open until 11 on Sunday morning – I had time to head out for sunrise.

I’m really glad I went out to the refuge, the sunrise was spectacular. There was a lot of fog and mist in the marsh, and some clouds in the sky. All of these combined to create wonderful colors and patterns in the marsh.

I spent the time before the sun rose, and just after it crossed the horizon photographing some of the marsh grasses near the entrance to the refuge. The colors were incredible lots of soft pinks and purples that turned to orange once the sun rose. Here are a couple of my photos of the marsh grasses.

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

Since the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge is known for the quantity and variety of bird that winter at the refuge, I did take a few photos of the cormorants near the entrance. Here’s what I saw when I first arrived at the refuge – a tree with many cormorants in the branches. As the sunrise progressed, most of the birds woke up and flew off into the marsh.

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

After most of the birds flew off, I noticed a couple of birds were still perched on the branch at the far right of the photo. In the distance, I could see the silhouettes of some of the trees with the wonderful draping of the spanish moss. From where I was standing, it looked the birds were admiring the wonderful colors of the sunrise. I just had to take a photo of the birds enjoying the sunrise.

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

Once the sun was up, I headed further into the refuge. I was hoping to photograph more of the Spanish Moss in the filtered light that I had seen earlier in the week. But along the way, I spotted some cattails in some wonderful golden light that I just had to stop and photograph.  At this time of year, the heads of the cattails are full of fluffy seeds. The sunlight seemed to create halos around the cattails.

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

I wasn’t the only photographer from the show out photographing in the marsh that morning. Dan Williams was also photographing at Savannah NWR. His The Magic of Light post describes his experiences at the marsh. Be sure to double click on Dan’s photos in the post to see the larger versions of the photos.

New Photo – Starburst Peppers

Starburst Peppers (c) 2010 Patty Hankins

I’ve just added a new photo –  Starburst Peppers – to my Beautifulflowerpictures.com website.  StarburstPeppers (Capsicum annuum) are an ornamental pepper. As the peppers ripen, the change color from green to pale yellow to deep yellow to orange to red. These are considered to be extremely hot peppers – with a temperature of above 30,000 Scoville Units.

This photograph is available as a 8X12″ gallery-wrapped canvas.  You can order  Starburst Peppers from my website and I will have it available at shows this year.

More Camellias at Magnolia Plantation in Charleston, South Carolina

On Sunday, I posted my first set of camellia photos from Magnolia Plantation and Gardens in Charleston, South Carolina. Here are the remaining camellia photos.

If you are ever in the Charleston area, I would really recommend that you visit Magnolia Plantation. In addition to the wonderful gardens, part of the property is an Audubon Swamp Garden. I took some photos in the Swamp Garden with my Crown Graphic camera. I’ll be posting the photos I took there on my other blog – Patty’s Adventures with Film – once I have a chance to scan the photos.

Now, back to the camellias . . .

Frank Houser V. – a camellia reticulata hybrid known for it’s red and white marbled blossoms. These have been grown at Magnolia Plantation since 1990.

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

Revelation – a historic camellia japonica grown at Magnolia Plantation since 1942. I love the way this flower was backlit by the sun the morning I photographed it.

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

Magnolia Flora – a white camellia

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

Lady Fernanda – a pale pink camellia japonica grown on the property since 2006

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

An unnamed bright pink camellia

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

And finally – a pair of Spring Snowflakes – leucojum vernum. I know these aren’t camellias – but they were so pretty I had to include them in my set of flower photos from Magnolia Plantation.

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

Camellias at Magnolia Plantation in Charleston SC

The other morning, I spent several wonderful hours photographing at the Magnolia Plantation and Gardens in Charleston, South Carolina. Charleston made a great stopping point for some photography between my shows in Wilmington, North Carolina and Savannah, Georgia.

Magnolia Plantation was founded in 1676  by the Drayton family. In 1870, the family opened the gardens to the public, making it the oldest public garden in the United States.  Some parts of the gardens date to the founding of the plantation. I spent most of my time photographing in the Camellia Garden. There were camellias in the gardens at Magnolia Plantation starting in the 1840s.

Here are some of the camellias I photographed at Magnolia Plantation.

Radiance Camellia – an ancient camellia japonica – this variety of camellia has been grown at Magnolia Plantation since the 1840s.

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

Delectissima – another historic camellia japonica – this wonderful variety with it’s white flowers with pink stripes has been grown on the property since the early 1900s.

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

Rev. John Bennett – an ancient camellia japonica that has been grown at Magnolia Plantation since 1840

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

And finally a Rev John Drayton camellia – an ancient camellia japonica – described as a light pink large peony style camellia. These have been grown at Magnolia Plantation since the late 1800s. (c) 2010 Patty Hankins

I’ll be posting a few more photos of camellias from Magnolia Plantation in a few days. In the meantime – I hope you enjoy these spectacular flowers.

Links – February 19, 2010

Maryland Golden Asters (c) 2010 Patty Hankins

Here are a few interesting sites I found this week – hope you enjoy them

Photography Links

Alain Briot has an essay on Composing With Color at the Luminous Landscape

Dan Williams has Keeping it Simple Can Produce the Best Results

Dear Rich has Linking and Photos: Permission Needed?

The Copyright Zone has I’ll Gladly Pay you Tuesday for a Photo Today

PDN Pulse has two related articles – Copycat cat or Not and Copycat or Not Part II

CopyrightAction has UK Gov Nationalises Orphans and Bans Non-Consensual Photography in Public

Gardening & Flower Links

Ron Nieubrugge has  2010 Desert Wildflower Predictions

CSM has Snow can Help – or Harm – the Garden,

Garden Variety has Glass Slipper?

National Parks and Wildlife Refuges Links

National Parks Traveler has Cape Hatteras National Seashore Rangers Counted 204 Sea Turtle Nests in 2009 and Power Line Debate at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Highlights National Issues

Wildlife South has a guide to Savannah National Wildlife Refuge in South Carolina (and lots of other great info – I just found this page since I photographed at Savannah NWR on Wednesday morning)

Refuge Watch has Oahu Wildlife Refuge to Expand and Refuge Gun Ban to End on Feb 22 With Little Clarity on the Effects

NPS has information about Manatee Protection in Everglades National Park

Wildlife Links

MSNBC has American Songbirds Evolve with Forests

Giraffe Conservation Foundation has info about Giraffes Being Fitted with GPS Collars

WPLN has White Nose Confirmed in Tennessee

Environmental Issues Links

WTOP has Road Salt an Environmental Concern for Plowed Snow

Morning at Savannah National Wildlife Refuge

I spent a little time at the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge this morning. I’d heard about the refuge from several friends – most of whom are bird photographers. With just one visit – I can understand why they love the place. It’s full of birds.

The Savannah National Wildlife Refuge is located just outside of Savannah, Georgia. It’s 29,000 acres are located in both Georgia and South Carolina. Parts of the refuge are located on an old rice plantation. A four mile long Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive provides access to areas frequented by migrating waterfowl. WildlifeSouth.com has a very nice guide to this section of the refuge.

One of the first sights I saw in the refuge were some dead trees filled with cormorants. Here is one of the cormorant silhouetted against the sunrise. (Thanks Dan for letting me know that this is a cormorant – not an anhinga)

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

Probably my favorite photos from the morning are of the golden light on some Spanish Moss. In a couple of different areas, the road passes through thick stands of trees covered with Spanish Moss. As the early morning sunlight passed through sections of the moss, it highlighted other areas. The effect of the light on the moss swaying in the wind was very dramatic.

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

Throughout the refuge I saw all sorts of birds. Not just ducks and wading birds, but all sorts of smaller birds. I tried photographing several different birds – let’s just say my bird photography still leaves lots to be desired. I did manage to take one photo of a robin that I’m pretty happy with. You can tell what kind of bird it is, you can see its face, and it’s not too hidden by the branches of the tree it was perched in.

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

I’m hoping to get back out to the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge while I’m here in Savannah for the Springtime Made in the South show. I’d like to try some more photos of the Spanish Moss – I think its fascinating the way it covers the trees and moves in the light and wind.

Springtime Made in the South – Savannah, GA – February 19-21

I will be at the at the Springtime Made in the South Show at the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center in Savannah, Georgia this weekend. This will be the first show I’ve ever done in Georgia.

I will have several new flower photos with me this weekend. You can see my most recent flower photographs on my BeautifulFlowerPictures.com website.

I’m offering a special offer this weekend – available only at Springtime Made in the South in Savannah.  For each $50 of photography you purchase from me, take $10 off your total purchase. So you can take $ 10 off a purchase of $ 50 or more, $20 off a purchase of $ 100 or more, etc. This offer cannot be combined with any other special offers.

Show hours are Friday February 19 10 AM – 6 PM, Saturday February 20 10 AM – 6 PM and Sunday February 21 11 AM – 5 PM. I’ll be in booth 926-928 this weekend.

Directions to the International Trade & Convention Center,  discount admission coupons and additional information is available on the show website.

I hope to see you in Savannah this weekend.

Camellias at Airlie Gardens in Wilmington, NC

I spent a wonderful morning at Airlie Gardens in Wilmington, North Carolina earlier this week. I’m in Wilmington for the Garden Show. I got here a few days early to do a little photography and to escape the snow in the DC area.

Airlie Gardens is a wonderful place to visit. The gardens were established in the early 1900s by Sarah Jones, wife of Pembroke Jones, a wealthy industrialist in the Wilmington area. Eventually, part of the estate was sold to Hanover County and is currently operated as public garden.

One of the features of Airlie Gardens is their collection of camellias. The original plants were purchased from Fruitlands Nursery of Augusta Georgia shortly after the turn of the century. By the 1920′s, there were as many as 5000 specimans of camellias on the property. At one time, they had one of each known cultivator of camellia growing on the property.

Camellias are native to eastern and southern Asia. They are named after the Jesuit Priest and botanist George Kamel. The Japanese Camellias (camellia japonica) which are found at Airlie Gardens were first described by Engelbert Kaempfer during a trip to Japan. In the traditional language of flowers camellias symbolize excellence and steadfastness.

I photographed many camellias on my visit to Airlie Gardens. They were absolutely wonderful to see. They were a bit challenging to photograph since I visited on a windy day – sustained winds of 25 mph with heavier gusts. I hope you enjoy my camellia photos from Airlie Gardens.

A white camellia with hints of yellow is some of the petals

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

A small pink camellia

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

Another white camellia

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

And finally a couple of photographs of a bright pink camellia

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins