Salvia and Blanketflower – December 2011 Photo of the Month

Salvia & Blanketflowers © 2011 Patty Hankins

Whenever I head to a new location to photograph wildflowers I always hope to find a field full of local wildflowers. When I spotted this set of Engelmann’s Salvia (Salvii Engelmannii) and Texas Blanketflowers (Gaillardia pulchella)  I knew I’d found the scene that would represent a field of Texas wildflowers. The Salvia has wonderful shades of purple – that contrast so nicely with the bright yellow & red in the blanketflowers. I just smile everytime I look at this photo – it brings such great memories of the beauty I saw in Texas.

Until December 31, 2011, SAVE 20% off the regular prices for Salvia and Blanketflowers.  The photograph is available through my website in two sizes of gallery-wrapped canvases.

Save $ 30 on the 12X18″ Canvas – regular price $ 147 – December Photo of the Month Price – $ 117.00

Save $ $ 110 on the 20X30″ Canvas – regular price $ 547 – December Photo of the Month Price – $ 437.00

Free shipping to U.S. Addresses for either size photograph.

As with all photographs from BeautifulFlowerPictures.com,  Salvia and Blanketflowers comes with my Unconditional Happiness Guarantee. You have one year to decide that it is the perfect photograph for you. If it’s not, just return it (in original condition) for a full refund.

Engelmann’s Salvia – salvia engelmannii

 

Salvia & Blanketflowers © 2011 Patty Hankins

The Salvia’s are a very colorful diverse member of the Mint (Lamiaceae) family. While I was in Texas earlier this year – I had the opportunity to photograph Engelmann’s Salvia (salvia engelmannii) – which is native only in Texas. When I was photographing these wonderful purple and white flowers – I had no idea that Texas was the only state they grew in – so I’m very glad I spent time photographing so many of them.

© 2011 Patty Hankins

Engelmann’s Salvia is named in honor of Georg Engelmann (1809-1884). Born in Germany, Engelmann immigrated to the United States in the 1830s where he practiced medicine. After developing an interest in botanical studies, Engelmann became well-known for his studies including work on identifying cactuses and vines. Engelmann’s reserach on grape vines played a major role in preserving the French wine industry when many vineyards in France were infested with Phylloxera vastatrix, a small insect. Engelmann identified varieties of native to the US grape vines that were resistant to Phylloxera vastatrix and arranged to have millions of shoots  and seeds shipped to France.

© 2011 Patty Hankins

Engelmann’s Salvia blooms in the spring. It grows to about 2 feet tall with a single spike of flowers on each stalk. It is also known as Engelmann’s Sage

 © 2011 Patty Hankins

More information about Engelmann’s Salvia can be found at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and the USDA Plant Profiles

© 2011 Patty Hankins

Texas Wildflowers – part 2

Here are a few more of the wildflowers I photographed on my recent trip to Texas.

Engelmann’s Salvia & Blanketflowers – What can I say – I just love the look of a field of wildflowers.

(c) 2011 Patty Hankins

Butterfly Weed – Asclepias tuberosa subspecies interior – related to the Butterfly Weed I photographed along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina.

(c) 2011 Patty Hankins

Green Milkweed – ascelpias viridis – like Butterfly Weed – milkweed is a member of the Asclepiadaceae family

(c) 2011 Patty Hankins

Purple Prairie Coneflowers – echinacea sanguinea – related to the Purple Coneflower I photographed here in the DC area

(c) 2011 Patty Hankins

Silverleaf Nightshade – solanum elaeagnifolium – related to the Nightshade I photographed at Acadia National Park

(c) 2011 Patty Hankins

And finally Texas Frog Fruit – lippia nodiflora – a very small white wildflower, The flowers are about 1/4″ long.

(c) 2011 Patty Hankins

I hope you’ve enjoyed a few more Texas wildflowers. I”ll be posting a few more to the blog next week.