Gerbera Daisies

Finally – a post with photos of Gerbera Daisies. Over the years I’ve gotten so many requests for photos of Gerbera Daisies – and until now – I haven’t had many photos of them. I rarely have found Gerbera Daisies growing in the DC area. The ones I see are usually at the florist or grocery store. And you know – I like to photograph flowers where they are growing rather than under studio lights in my basement.

Gerbera Daisies are part of the Aster family, native to Africa, Asia and South America. They have become the world’s fifth most popular cut flower – which probably explains why I see so many at local flower shops. They are now thousands of cultivars available in just about every color you can imagine.

Here are some of the ones I’ve photographed recently.

Yellowstone Gerbera Daisy

© 2011 Patty Hankins

Mount Rushmore Gerbera Daisy

© 2011 Patty Hankins

Yosemite Gerbera Daisy

© 2011 Patty Hankins

Bighorn Gerbera Daisy

© 2011 Patty Hankins

Pacific Rim Gerbera Daisy

© 2011 Patty Hankins

Braberton Gerbera Daisy – gerbera jamesonii

© 2011 Patty Hankins

I don’t know about you – but Gerbera Daisies always make me smile! Hope these have brightened up your day!

Only 3 days left for Early Bird Pricing on my 2012 Wildflower Calendar

 

 

 

Just a quick reminder – this Wednesday, August 31 is the last day to take advantage of the Early Bird Pricing on my Wildflower Calendars.

You can save $ 3.00 off the regular price for each calendar you order. Until August 31, the price for a single calendar is $ 16.95 (regular price will be $ 19.95).

There is a discount if you buy five or more calendars – $ 14.95 each before August 31 ($ 17.95 regular price). I do offer free shipping to US addresses on all calendar orders.

The calendars make great gifts for your favorite gardener or nature enthusiast. So how about buying 5 – 1 for you – and 4 for those hard to shop for people on your holiday gift list.

I didn’t want you to miss the opportunity to order my Wildflower Calendar at the Early Bird Pricing.

Social Media Immersion Workshop – Philadelphia – November 5

As you may know – I am a huge Alyson Stanfield (@abstanfield on Twitter) fan!!! I’ve been learning about the business of being an artist from her for years -  her ArtBizCoach website, newsletter & blog have great info and practical tips that I use daily. Last year, I finally was able to attend one of Alyson’s workshops in person and came away with an to-do list of steps to implement to grow my business. So when I saw that Alyson was going to be doing a Social Media Immersion workshop for Artists in Philadelphia in November – I immediately put it on my calendar and signed up.

If you are an artist – and can get to Philly on November 5 – I really hope you’ll attend Alyson’s workshop. Here’s all the info about it

Artists: Are you confused about social media?

Do you understand how Twitter and Facebook can help you promote your art?

Do you think social media is just a big waste of time?

 

As comfortable as I am with social media – I know I still have a lot to learn!   Alyson Stanfield, author of “I’d Rather Be in the Studio: The Artist’s No-Excuse Guide to Self-Promotion,” is coming to Philadelphia for a one-day-only workshop to help us sort out the benefits (and pitfalls) of social media.

 

SOCIAL MEDIA IMMERSION

PHILADELPHIA, PA

NOVEMBER 5, 2011

http://artbizcoach.com/philly

 

 

For one whole day (November 5) we’ll eat, breathe, and sleep Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and maybe some Google+ before then.

 

This is NOT a “how to get started on social media” workshop.

This is for people with existing social media accounts and blogs.

 

If you’re ready to take your online presence to the next level, please join me in at this workshop.

 

. . . Only 60 seats are available! . . .

 

People are signing up already and Alyson expects it to sell out.

 

The price for this 1-day event is only $127 right now and includes lunch.

(Price goes up to $157 after September 27.)

 

Everything you need to know is at http://artbizcoach.com/philly

 

We’re going to have FUN. You’re going to be part of a wonderful, social (hey, it isn’t called “social media” for  nothing) Saturday.

 

I hope you’ll follow up on this soon and reserve your spot. Looking forward to seeing you in Philly in November

 

 

 

Links – August 26, 2011

Shooting Stars © 2011 Patty Hankins

 

Here are some posts and articles that I enjoyed this week – hope you enjoy them as well

Photography and Art Links

Pixiq has Mass. D.A. Says No Wiretapping Laws Broken When Cops Have No Expectation Of Privacy

PhotoAttorney has Q&A – What Year Should I Use for My Copyright Notice?

Plagiarism Today has The Art4Love / Chad Love Lieberman Plagiarism Scandal

If you’re in the DC area – be sure to check out the 2011 Nature Visions Conference on November 11-13 in Manassas, VA. Art Wolfe is keynoting this year’s conference  and teaching a one day workshop on Friday November 11. I’ve signed up for the conference and Art Wolfe’s workshop – hope to some of you there.

Flowers, Plants & Gardening Links

The Organic View has Recognizing & Removing Invasive Species From Your Yard

Christian Science Monitor has Five trees you’ve never heard of that are helping to feed Africa

The Sacramento Bee has Invasive yellow star thistle aims to take over the world

 

National Park and National Wildlife Refuge Links

National Parks Traveler has The Million Club: National Parks That Had More Than A Million Visits in 2010

Wildlife Links

BBC has Iberian lynx ‘not doomed’ by low genetic diversity

The Independent has WWF calls for action to save Mekong dolphins

Nature News has Seafood suffers from fishy eco-labelling

PhysOrg has Beekeepers try to stop the pollinator’s decline

Washington Post has 8.7 million species exist on Earth, study estimates

Environmental Issues Links

Nature News has Climate change will hit genetic diversity

Mother Jones has Study: Climate Shifts Cause War

Lady Margaret Passion Flowers

My photograph of an Incense Passion flower has always gotten the most puzzled looks over the years at shows. People would pick up the photo – look at it – and look up at me – and ask What is it? I didn’t even need to see which photo they were looking at – from their reaction – I knew it was my Passion flower photo. I’d explain it was a passion flower – and they would say it looks more like a space alien or a sea monster than a flower. So since then – I’ve been keeping my eye out for more passion flowers to photograph.

Recently, I had the opportunity to photograph some Lady Margaret Passion Flowers. Passion Flowers are easy to spot – there is nothing else that looks anything like. The Lady Margaret Passion Flowers were much smaller than the Incense and Ruby Glow Passion Flowers I’ve photographed in the past. The petals on the Lady Margarets hung down rather than stick straight out. Photos I’ve seen of Lady Margarets do show petals in other positions that I saw – so it may just be a matter of timing that determines their shape.

I hope you enjoy my photos of the Lady Margaret Passion Flowers

© 2011 Patty Hankins

© 2011 Patty Hankins

©2011 Patty Hankins

© 2011 Patty Hankins

Cranefly Orchids – Tipularia discolor

© 2011 Patty Hanknis

The same day I photographed the Yellow Fringed Orchid – I also found a photographed a second native orchid – the Cranefly Orchid (tipularia discolor). Cranefly orchids are one of three members of the tiularia genus. The other two species are native to Japan and the Himalayas.

© 2011 Patty Hankins

The Cranefly orchids are one of the most unusual native orchids I’ve ever seen. Its shades of green, purple and brown make it very hard to spot in the woods. What fascinated me about the orchid is the way the spurs of the flowers cross and created amazing patterns.

© 2011 Patty Hankins

Cranefly orchids emerge as a single green glossy leaf  in the fall that last through the winter. In the spring, the leaves die back and a stem emerges that blooms in the summer. The purple stems grow up to 60 cm tall with greenish brown flowers. The flowers are about 1 cm across and tilt to one side or the other – which facilitates pollination by noctuids moths.  The pollen attaches the moths eyes as it visits the plants.

Native to much of the Eastern and Southern United States, they are listed as threatened or endangered in Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan and New York. They prefer to grow in forests with moist soil.

More information about cranefly orchids can be found at

Connecticut Botanical Society

Flora of North America

Florida’s Native and Naturalized Orchids

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Missouri Plants

USDA Plant Profiles

Wikipedia

New Photo: Showy Primrose

 

I’ve recently added a new photo – Showy Primrose – to my Beautifulflowerpictures.com website.

Showy Primrose is the second wildflower photograph from my trip to Texas earlier this year. The Showy Primroses were one of the first wildflowers I saw as I drove north from Dallas. Along the sides of the road I kept spotting these wonderful pink flower fluttering in the wind. Once I actually photographing – I quickly spotted a patch of the showy primroses to focus on. I the love combination of the pinks in the petals, the yellow/green in the center and the white/yellow stamens. The flowers were about 2″ across – so you can imagine how wonderful a large patch of them look blowing in a gentle Texas breeze. As I photographed them, I knew that I’d be printing up at least one of Showy Primrose photos – after all – who can resist pink wildflowers as beautiful as the showy primroses.

This photograph is available as either a 12 X 15″ or 20 X 26″ gallery-wrapped canvas.  You can order  Showy Primrose  from my website.

Links – August 19, 2011

Lotus Blossom III © 2011 Patty Hankins

 

Here are some posts and articles that I enjoyed this week – hope you enjoy them as well

Photography and Art Links

Dan Williams has Landscape Bird Photography

William Neill has The Edges of Light

Artists Who Thrive has How do I handle the “can I get a discount on your art” question?

Gawker has A Delightful Skewering of Art School Hipster Pretension

Nature Visions has Shot of a lifetime

Long Beach Post has Police Chief Confirms Detaining Photographers Within Departmental Policy

The Wrap has L.A. Times Sued by David Strick Over Photo Copyright

British Journal of Photography has BBC caught in Twitter copyright row

If you’re in the DC area – be sure to check out the 2011 Nature Visions Conference on November 11-13 in Manassas, VA. Art Wolfe is keynoting this year’s conference  and teaching a one day workshop on Friday November 11. I’ve signed up for the conference and Art Wolfe’s workshop – hope to some of you there.

Flowers, Plants & Gardening Links

Native Plant Society of Texas has White prickly poppy

National Parks Traveler has National Park Service, Garden Club of America Renew Partnership Aimed At Conservation of Native Plants

Washington Gardener has Myths & Facts About Native Plants

SOO Evening news has Purple Loosestrife: Pretty, but damaging

BBC has Kew launches native flowers project at Wakehurst Place

National Park and National Wildlife Refuge Links

National Parks Traveler has  Where Can You Enjoy The Best Wildlife Experiences In the National Park System?

Climatetide has Mainstays of Cape Cod National Seashore threatened by climate change

National Wildlife Refuge Association has NWRA Applauds $100 Million Northern Everglades Restoration Initiative

Wildlife Links

National Wildlife Federation has 10 Myths About Bird Behavior

Neatorama has Rare Sand Kitten Born

Huffington Post has New Shellfish Poison Found In U.S. Waters Caused By Algal Bloom

EureakAlert has Research reveals how butterflies copy their neighbors to fool birds

Mongabay has China opens trade in ‘legal’ tiger skins

Washington Post has  400 hidden cameras show Earth’s real wild side _ up-close look at jaguars, gorillas, elephants

Environmental Issues Links

ABC Science has Ancient reef minerals hold seawater’s secrets

EurekAlert has Increased tropical forest growth could release carbon from the soil

Flathead Beacon has ‘Fracking’ Ramps Up on Blackfeet Reservation

 

 

 

Why Photograph Flowers?

Western Blue Flax © 2010 Patty Hankins

One of the questions I get asked on a pretty regular basis is – why do I photograph flowers? Which is often followed up with – why do I have photos of so many wildflowers and don’t have photos of some of the more popular cut flowers?

Part of the answer is very simple – I love flowers. I love the colors, the shapes, the textures. And whoever said that if you love what you do – you’ll never work a day in your life – was absolutely correct. I never feel like I’m working when I’m in nature photographing.

But there’s more to it than that. Recently, I’ve realized that when I’m photographing I feel a sense of calm and peace that I find at no other time in my life. Nothing relaxes me more than to be surrounded by flowers looking for the perfect image to capture with my camera.

As I look at the flowers through my lens so often I’m in total awe at the incredible beauty and intricate details that I’m seeing. Even more amazing to me is the fact that the colors and structures serve the purpose of attracting just the right pollinator to the flowers to ensure the future of the species.

Yellow Trillium & Purple Phacelia © 2009 Patty Hankins

I also find an amazing connection to the greater natural world when I’m photographing. Not only do I see the flowers – but also the settings where they are. I’m often photographing in the mountains, or alongside a stream. I can hear the birds singing in the trees, the insects buzzing, the wind rustling through the leaves.

So for me – photographing flowers – especially wildflowers – gives me the chance to connect with nature, be inspired by the beauty I see, and be in a state of calm and peace. It is my hope, that through my photographs, you too can experience the same wonderful feelings of connection, inspirations, calm and peace that I experience when I’m photographing.

I’d love to hear why you enjoy flowers and spending time in nature. Let’s continue the conversation in the comments below or on Facebook.

Yellow Fringed Orchids – Platanthera ciliaris

Last summer I found (and photographed) my first fringed orchids – the Small Purple Fringed Orchid (platanthera psycodes). Recently, I photographed a related orchid – the Yellow Fringed Orchid (platanthera ciliaris). The Platanthera’s are a genus of orchids native to the Northern hemisphere – with 32 different species found in North America. They are terrestrial and have tubercules (a small rounded on the lip of the orchid).

© 2011 Patty Hankins

When I first spotted the Yellow Fringed Orchids – I knew immediately that they were related to the Purple Fringed Orchids. With the fringe along the edge of the flowers – I couldn’t imagine they could be anything but native orchids. As I looked more closely at the flowers – I was fascinated by how complex of a structure they have. Not only is there the fascinating fringe – but also what look like a pair of teeth on the upper lip of the flowers.

© 2011 Patty Hankins

Yellow Fringed Orchids are native to much of the eastern and southern United States and Ontario, Canada. They are threatened or endangered in a number of states including Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. They can be found blooming in many areas through the months of July, August and September.

© 2011 Patty Hankins

Yellow Fringed Orchids grow up to 100 cm tall. The racemes have up to 50 flowers – each about one inch from the sepal to the end of the lower lip. The flowers range in color from yellow to apricot to orange. They prefer to grow in moist boggy areas – often along roadsides or open pine areas.

© 2011 Patty Hankins

Native Americans used the Yellow Fringed Orchids to treat everything from headaches to snakebites. They also used the roots as fish bait.

I love the look of the Yellow Fringed Orchids. Now that I know what they look like – and where they prefer to grow – I hope to find and photograph more of them.

For more information about Yellow Fringed Orchids, visit

Flora of North America

Florida’s Native and Naturalized Orchids

Internet Orchid Species Photo Encyclopedia

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Michigan State University

Native American Ethnobotany

USDA Plant Profile

UW Stevens Point – Robert W Freckmann Herbarium

 

Wikipedia – Platanthera