Black and White Daisy

Happy New Year

Black and White Daisy

I know it is a New Year since I had to make new folders for the blog pics. There is one folder for the original full size picture and one for the scaled down watermarked pictures. It is the best filing system I have been able to come up with. I hope everybody had a good time last night. We stayed home and watched Selena perform at midnight.

Today’s flower picture is a little odd since it was taken in the middle of a sunny day. Having the background come out like that is something I have to admit was lucky. The 105mm/2.8 Nikon lens seems to do it more than any of the lenses that I own.

Happy New Year to all.

Happy New Year-Slipper Orchids

Zapatilla
Phragmipedium longifolium
(frag-muh-PEE-dee-um) (lon-jee-FOH-lee-um)

Happy New Year. While organizing some photos on my various hard drives I came across some Orchid photos I hadn’t even looked at after shooting them. Today’s post will feature a few of the unusual Orchids from those files. This first one is a Phragmipedium (phrag.) that has a different shape then most flowers. It has a little confusing nomenclature but can also be considered part of the large and variable species of Phragmipedium. They are native to Central and Northern South America. Where they like to grow in moist to wet conditions in a variety of habitats at sea level to low elevations. The species name, longifolium, comes from the long leaves, which can grow up to 30 inches long.


This next Orchid is Phragmipedium laevigatum x primulinum. I think both the flower above and this one have several other names that are considered botanically correct. I am just going by the tags that were with them (thank goodness I took pictures of the tags too). I was attracted to the nice yellow color of this Orchids pouches and thought it was unusual.

Stay tuned for some more Orchid pictures in the next few days including tomorrow.