Wordlessly celebrating water lily blooms at Longwood Gardens

Reflection of Water lily at Longwood Gardens

Emerging Water lily at Longwood Gardens

Yellow Water lily at Longwood Gardens

 

Celebrating Plant Diversity: Artist's Acanthus ~> Acanthus montanus

Artist's Acanthus Acanthus montanus

The last time I walked about Longwood Gardens with my camera, I tried to be patient, to wait and see what plants would jump out at me. Artist's Acanthus did just that and now I am trying to imagine a slug causing damage to such a fierce looking plant. To learn more about Acanthus montanus, a plant native to Tropical Africa, check out this site.

Artist's Acanthus Acanthus montanus bloom

 

 

Six Blooms and a trunk that caught my eye at Longwood Gardens

Celebrating the Blue and Violet Flowers of Longwood Gardens and my Friend Paul Grecian

Blue Flowers with Paul Grecian
at Longwood Gardens
Photo by Wayne Stratz

If I can hope for traditions to be created, going to Longwood Gardens with my friend, Paul Grecian, will be come an annual event. Twice we have gone on my spring break from teaching. The first time tulip blooms were peaking and we barely spent time inside. Well I did pray for an hour with succulents. This time it wasn't too spring like outside so we made our way through the glass houses. The blue beds caught our eye on the way in, but it was at the end of the trip that we spent time there.

Paul may be my favorite photographer. We own two of his pieces and spending time with him slows me down. I spend more time in an area and possibly come home with better photos to share here.  The drive to Longwood is filled with some great brainstorming about being in the business of creating and selling art. Hope to be back next year and the year after that... 

Hydrangeas that surely would have 

delighted Mosaic Woman ~

Hortensia Hydrangea
 Hydrangea macrophylla
Mathilda Gutges
photo by Wayne Stratz

Hortensia Hydrangea close up

 Hydrangea macrophylla

Mathilda Gutges

photo by Wayne Stratz

A poppy that was past its prime,

 caught my eye ~

Blue-Poppy
 Meconopsis
Lingholm
by Wayne Stratz

Blue-Poppy
 Meconopsis
Lingholm
by Wayne Stratz

Then I saw my chance to see Paul

 in a wave of Echiums

Pride-Of-Madeira
Echium candicans
photo by Wayne Stratz

Pride-Of-Madeira and Paul Grecian
Echium candicans
photo by Wayne Stratz