Communal flowers, trees, plants and fungi thread

[art frames]

This thread is to run alongside the previous communal natural history threads which have been running now for several months on birds and insect life. It comes out of a request on those threads to include other areas of nature.

The aim is for anyone to join in and post their pictures of flowers, trees, plants and fungi for general enjoyment and discussion. So please join in, share images, poems, or add your comment and share your thoughts in a communal, supportive place.

You don't have to be a committed flower photographer - everybody is welcome to contribute if they have a photograph which they are proud of (or disappointed with and would like some advice). It will be fun to learn about plants from around the world, botanical collections or from your garden.

So have a root about on your hard drive and show us what you've got.



To start us off I love this time of year for the wonderful blossom, bluebells and catkins


Blossom by Peter Willmott, on Flickr


Blossom and Bluebells by Peter Willmott, on Flickr

[Ross the fiddler]

A close look at a Kenilworth Ivy flower (Cymbalaria muralis, with common names ivy-leaved toadflax,[2] Kenilworth ivy,[3] coliseum ivy,[3] Oxford ivy,[3] mother of thousands,[3] pennywort,[3] wandering sailor,[3] is a flowering plant native to Mediterranean Europe and widely naturalised elsewhere.).



Focus Stacked in camera, E-M1 & 60mm macro lens.

[art frames]

Hi Ross, had to look it up as I recognised the flower but not the name. I read it has several names including Toadflax which is more familiar to me.

With my EM5 mk2 I don't get the in camera focus stack. I would use it all the time! It does seem to work well.

Thanks for joining in.

[art frames]

Do you have any bluebells?

[Harold Gough]

Originally Posted by art frames

Hi Ross, had to look it up as I recognised the flower but not the name. I read it has several names including Toadflax which is more familiar to me.

If you see caterpillars which look similar to those of the Large White butterfly, take a closer look:

http://e-group.uk.net/forum/showthread.php?t=39511

Harold

[Harold Gough]

Abutilon vitifolia 'Flowering Maple'.

This is one of the mallow family, together with Hollyhocks. It makes a tallish (2-3m) spindly shrub, which whips around a lot in the wind. It was a windy day and I was standing on a stool to get this flower to fill and effective 210mm frame. I had to wait for calmer moments.

My regular software is out of action but I am happy to post this version, uncropped.

EM-1, Aperture priority, f11?, 1/500, ISO 500, hand-held.

Harold

[David M]

Foxtail Barley detail, Saskatchewan, Canada.

[Ross the fiddler]

Originally Posted by art frames

Hi Ross, had to look it up as I recognised the flower but not the name. I read it has several names including Toadflax which is more familiar to me.

With my EM5 mk2 I don't get the in camera focus stack. I would use it all the time! It does seem to work well.

Thanks for joining in.

Thanks, I've now edited it so that all the names are covered. I should have included the botanical name though. While it's not a native in Australia it grows & spreads rather well here & some people rip it out as a weed, but we love it. It can be pulled up easily (but may grow back readily perhaps ) & it sneaks inside through door & window cracks, but it is so delicate & lovely we don't mind.

[Harold Gough]

Originally Posted by Ross the fiddler

Thanks, I've now edited it so that all the names are covered. I should have included the botanical name though. While it's not a native in Australia it grows & spreads rather well here & some people rip it out as a weed, but we love it. It can be pulled up easily (but may grow back readily perhaps ) & it sneaks inside through door & window cracks, but it is so delicate & lovely we don't mind.

Purple Toadflax grows in our garden each year. It never spreads much but is always present and we find it attractive, as do bees.

Harold

[art frames]

Originally Posted by Harold Gough

Abutilon vitifolia 'Flowering Maple'.

This is one of the mallow family, together with Hollyhocks. It makes a tallish (2-3m) spindly shrub, which whips around a lot in the wind. It was a windy day and I was standing on a stool to get this flower to fill and effective 210mm frame. I had to wait for calmer moments.

My regular software is out of action but I am happy to post this version, uncropped.

EM-1, Aperture priority, f11?, 1/500, ISO 500, hand-held.

Harold

Harold, a stunning looking flower. Well worth the effort.

[art frames]

Originally Posted by Ross the fiddler

Thanks, I've now edited it so that all the names are covered. I should have included the botanical name though. While it's not a native in Australia it grows & spreads rather well here & some people rip it out as a weed, but we love it. It can be pulled up easily (but may grow back readily perhaps ) & it sneaks inside through door & window cracks, but it is so delicate & lovely we don't mind.

Hi Ross,

That is very kind to go the extra mile for us. I personally learned something and look forward to seeing this in the wild.

Hope to see some more native Australian stuff as we go. Have always enjoyed those posted elsewhere on the board and hope to get some more here.

[art frames]

Originally Posted by David M

Foxtail Barley detail, Saskatchewan, Canada.

David

Very beautiful. Looks like it might come alive with 3D specs.

I will start a mammals and others thread shortly. I am thinking up an all inclusive title (ensuring we get everything covered).

In the meantime keep them coming.

[Harold Gough]

Originally Posted by art frames

Harold, a stunning looking flower. Well worth the effort.

Thanks, Peter.

My favourite colour. These were the first of the season, right at the top. There will be plenty more, but further down, with no chance of a blue sky background.

Harold

[Harold Gough]

Originally Posted by David M

Foxtail Barley detail, Saskatchewan, Canada.

David,

A lovely blend of abstract and impressionist.

Harold

[David M]

Originally Posted by art frames

David

Very beautiful. Looks like it might come alive with 3D specs.

I will start a mammals and others thread shortly. I am thinking up an all inclusive title (ensuring we get everything covered).

In the meantime keep them coming.

I was thinking Communal flora and Communal fauna.