Early May on the Blue Ridge Parkway

These images are from the second week in May 2010. Some of these images are from the wildflower garden at the Roanoke Valley Garden Club offices on Colonial Avenue, one is from my yard, and the rest are along the Blue Ridge Parkway on the high plateau in Floyd County. I was distressed while shooting the images on the Parkway because the large amount of Flame Azalea and Pinxter Flower bushes along the Parkway were destroyed by the severe winter snow and ice that we had during the winter of 2009/2010. In one area that I would visit often, almost 95% of the bushes were gone. Where once stood about twenty Pinxter Flower bushes, only one remained. It was devastating. I know it is the way of nature, but the damage was disheartening none the less.

  This is Blue Salvia (Salvia divinorum).

 This is Red Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis).

This is Wild Blue Flax (Linum lewisii). Stunning colored blooms.

 This is the Bachelor Button (Centaurea cyanus), also known as a Cornflower.

This is Virginia Spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana). This image was shot while it was raining.

This wildflower is Star Chickweed (Stellaria corei) 

 This wildflower is a Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum). This single bloom was one of hundreds in the area.

 The Flame Azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum). Most of the Flame Azalea where this photo was taken were killed off by a brutal winter storm.

 The Flame Azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum), the Floyd County version.

 These are Pinxter Flowers (Rhododendron periclymenoides). Their numbers were decimated in this area by a brutal winter.

 This wildflower is Bowman's Root (Porteranthus trifoliatis)

 This wildflower is Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia).

Above is a Pinxter Flower (Rhododendron periclymenoides). Very odd, yet stunning in their frailty.

Introducing the Showy Evening Primrose

These images are from May 6, 2010, and I found a patch of wildflowers called Showy Evening Primrose, also known as Mexican Primrose, Pink Evening Primrose, and Pinkladies. This group of wildflowers were the only images I shot that day. These are very photogenic wildflowers, so I decided to show three images from the shooting that day. I hope you like them.

 The Showy Evening Primrose (Oenothera speciosa). Nice close up, Mr. DeMille.

 The Showy Evening Primrose (Oenothera speciosa). This was a very colorful grouping.

 

The Showy Evening Primrose (Oenothera speciosa). Another nice close up.

Images from Week 1 of May 2010

These images are from the first week in May 2010. The weather is starting to get warmer during the day, but more important, it is staying warmer at night. I particularly like the month of May for wildflowers. Just like when the leaves change in the fall, you can move higher in elevation to move back a few weeks to catch wildflowers coming to bloom after they have faded in the valley.

The Flame Azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum), the Franklin County version.

 The Flame Azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum), again located at a wildflower wonderland in Franklin County.

 The Common Cinquefoil (Potentilla simplex). This one is again located at that wildflower wonderland in Franklin County.

The Fire Pink (Silene virginica). I really like this wildflower. This one is in the Franklin County Wildflower Garden.

 Red Azalea (Rhododendron x Gable "Stewartsonian"). The butterflies love this stuff.

Periwinkle (Vinca minor). This is the variegated variety.

 This is Deptford Pink. (Dianthus armeria). I was constantly looking for this wildflower until it started growing in my yard.

 Yellow Wood Sorrel (Oxalis stricta), again located in my yard.

 More Deptford Pink. (Dianthus armeria). This is a very small wildflower, on a very tall stem.

Yellow Azelia. (Rhododendrum luteum).

Images fron late April 2010

I know it is late, but I kind of like working with wildflower photos when there are none to be seen right now. Also, to answer some of the questions that I have been asked lately, I like to photograph wildflowers as they are. Unlike other wildflower photographers, I do not search for perfect looking flowers. I do not pass up a chance to photograph a wildflower because a bug ate some of its petals, or the symmetry is not perfect. I like wildflowers the way they are, with whatever imperfections they may have. To me, that is character. If you are looking for perfect wildflower shots, you probably will be disappointed here. I shoot 'em like I see 'em. I hope that helps to explain a bit of my imagery.

This is Wood Poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum). Also known as Golden Poppy.

This is Pink Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis). Tall and delicate.

This is the Common Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta). I do not see these as much as I do the Virginia Bluebells.

This is Spiderwort (Tradescantis ohiensis). It is also known as Cow Slobber (no joke).

This is Yellow Lady's-slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum).

This wildflower is a Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum).

This wildflower is Eastern Bluestar (Amsonia tabernaemontana). It is also known as Blue Dogbane.

These wildflowers are White Dwarf Creasted Iris (Iris cristata).

These wildflowers are Crimson Clover (Trifolium incarnatum).

Another image of the Pink Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis). This is one of my favorite images.

Enter the Rare Mutant Trillium

On one of my expeditions to photograph wildflowers, I encountered several large colonies of Trillium. While photographing the Trillium, I noticed some odd looking flowers. These flowers were clearly Trillium, but the blooms were multiple layers of three petals, and the blooms were green.
I carefully photographed them, and I think they are very beautiful. I queried some local wildflower folks and was told that they were nothing special, and was then ignored from further discussion. I found this behavior very odd, so I asked a regional biologist if he could look at my images and identify them. He not only knew what they were, he knew where I had taken the photos, and he verified that these Trillium are, indeed, very uncommon. It seems that, occasionally, a colony of Trillium will mutate and produce odd looking blooms. I consider myself honored to have seen these beautiful specimens. For the safety and protection of these colonies, I will not divulge where these Trillium are located.
I hope you like these images.

This is Dame's Rocket (Hesperis matronalis). This is the white version.

Again, this is Dame's Rocket, but this is the violet version.

This wildflower is Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata)

This is Star Chickweed (Stellaria corei)

This is Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica)

This is a Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum)

The beautiful Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)

(Trillium grandiflorum)

Here is one of the mutant Trillium.

Another image of the mutated strain of the Trillium grandiflorum

I think this is my favorite image of the mutated wildflowers. It looks beautiful to me.

Three Cheers for Trillium

These images were taken between April 15 and April 19, 2010. Many of these images are of Trillium, a beautiful wildflower that has a noticeable affection to the number three. There are usually three petals, and three leaves on this wildflowers. Several other wildflowers spice up the image mix.

A group of Bluets (Houstonia caerulea). Always a pleasure to see, but difficult to photograph due to their petite size and susceptibility to movement in the wind.

This wildflower is called Epimedium, also known as Barrenwort and Horny Goat Weed. It is the more rare red colored Epimedium.

This is also Epimedium, however in the more common green and yellow colors.

A Tiger Swallowtail butterfly pays due diligence to an Azelia in a stiff breeze.

The Tiger Swallowtail butterfly checking out more of the Pink Azelia.

A Buttercup (Ranunculus acris) makes an early Spring appearance.

Now starts the march of the Trilliums (Trillium grandiflorum).

Another Trillium, but is aging.

(Trillium grandiflorum)

(Trillium grandiflorum)

(Trillium grandiflorum)

This wildflower is a Canada Violet (Viola canadensis)

Wild Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata)

Wild Phlox. I do not know the exact species.

(Trillium grandiflorum)