Heliconia and 35-70 2.8 Nikon lens

Heliconia
Heliconia stricta 'Dwarf Jamaican'
(hel-ih-KOH-nee-uh) (STRIK-tuh)

Yesterday I went and tried the lens Karen is getting for Christmas. It is a Nikon AF 35-70mm f/2.8D Zoom-Nikkor. She is a very good photographer and needed a boost up from the Nikkor AF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 lens that came with her camera. The new lens is sharp and fast.

Since I was already down in Westchester Wave Hill seemed to be good place to check out some flowers and the lens. The push-pull zoom set up is a little interesting as is the macro function but easy to figure out. I didn’t do a lot of heavy testing more like trying to shoot what I would on a normal excursion.


This little Heliconia was blooming inside the conservatory and it is quite cute. The smaller size is perfect for cultivation in a container and it retains the nice ‘lobster claw’ type of flowers. Always a treat to see the brilliant red that this plant produced.

Shooting Star
Clerodendron quadriloculare
(kler-oh-DEN-drum) (kwah-drih-lok-yoo-LAIR-ee)


This photo was also shot with the 35-70mm lens. One of the prime things about a lens, to me anyways, is the bokeh it produces. On a simple level that is how the lens reproduces the out of focus elements in the background of the photo. This lens did nicely and with some more experimenting would do even better.

Today's Flower - Shrubby Cinquefoil

Shrubby Cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Dakota Sunspot'
(poh-ten-TILL-uh) (froo-tih-KOH-suh)
Synonyms: ‘Fargo’, Shrubby Cinquefoil

This plant was living up to its ‘until frost’ blooming time last week. It really flowers best in early summer and then sporadically until the end of the season. This cultivar is far superior to the species. The flowers are a deeper yellow and its dwarf habit is nice. This plant came to the garden as a bonus mail order item when we ordered some rare rhododendrons from the west coast. It has been chugging along for the last 15 years and outlasted some of the Rhododendrons. I usually don’t recommend Potentilla for gardens since it is a leggy, somewhat ratty looking (at times) plant, however 'Dakota Sunspot' and ‘Primrose Beauty’ are two that are nice.

There is a lot of lore associated with this plant. The five leaflets per stem foliage is said to represent the senses of man. The foliage has also been used as heraldic device. It is also said if you sprinkle a few Cinquefoil leaves in your wallet or purse money will be drawn to you. Tea can be also be made from leaves (disclaimer: never tried it and wouldn’t without more research).

Here is a bonus flower since it is Sunday. See more flowers from all over the world at Today’s Flowers .


Japanese Clerodendrum
Clerodendrum trichotomum
(kler-oh-DEN-drum) (try-KOH-toh-mum)
Synonyms: Peanut Butter Shrub, Harlequin Glory Bower

This plant just sort of showed up one day and I have been enjoying ever since. It is a little bit of work keeping up the seedlings and suckers but worth it. It is a tall shrub that can be trained into a small tree. The flowers smell heavenly (bit like jasmine) and they are followed by a blue berries with a red calyx. The leaves have a tropical appearance and this plant attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.

Shooting Star (Clerodendrum quadriloculare)

Shooting Star
Clerodendrum quadriloculare
(kler-oh-DEN-drum) (kwah-drih-lok-yoo-LAIR-ee)

This plant seems to get huge and when it is blooming its covered with blossoms. This was taken at Mounts Botanical Garden in West Palm Beach. I have posted before on the garden. I read an article in the Palm Beach Post on this plant while I was down in Florida. It described Clerodendrum as among the fastest growing shrubs in the world. Each time I saw a Starburst Bush it was in full bloom with huge waves of flowers giving only a glimpse of the purpley/green foliage. I grow two species here in Connecticut but they are a lot different. The flowers are different but the suckering habit and rapid growth sound about right. I have even trained a couple up as small trees. They have been around for years so they seem pretty hardy. One came in as a seedling in a tree ball and I think it is Glory Bower (Clerodendrum trichotomum var. fargesii). It is growing in a Styrax tree ball but starting to spread out. The other species I am not sure about but it looks like Clerodendrum trichotomum or Harlequin Glory Bower. Its colorful calyxs brighten the late summer/fall season. I had to go through the patch of this last year. It had just become too overwhelming. It was easy to restore it to a viable level and I have enjoyed having in the garden. There are several other beautiful species in the genus.

It looks like I will be living on this Florida stuff for awhile. It sounds like it is back to winter around here next week.