Flower Macro: Phlox?

Almost two years ago I posted the same flowers and wasn't able to classify them myself. I asked for help. It came out that those flowers maybe were some kind of Phlox. This plant is common in Barcelona parks and gardens but I am a mess when it comes to botany. Maybe someone can find the exact name.

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Flower Abstraction: Complementary Colors

Not exactly an abstraction cause the flower is still a flower. I guess I should have called this, an outburst of color rebellion. The fact is I had a dull macro of this big flower that would have never made it to this blog unless it underwent some drastic editing. I remember I had a similar post called Jazzy Yellow Flower in Barcelona Psychedelic Garden, where I experimented with complimentary colors so I felt like repeating myself just for the sake of aesthetics and out of boredom. Have a nice weekend.

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Purple Bougainvilleas Detail

With this detail of some purple bougainvilleas flowers I want to wish you all a nice weekend. As you know I like to spray some nature here and there in between bricks and stones. Not that I am the flower kind but it is nice to see the colors and feel more alive every now and then.

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Stamens: Nature's Perfection

This is part of a flower's reproductive system. A detail of several stamens, each of them made up of a filament (the stalks), anthers and pollen sacs. But as I've said many times I am no specialist. I just want you to appreciate the beauty of it all and wish you all a nice week.

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Sant Jordi, A Book, A Rose and Lot of People

First of all allow me to congratulate the publishing houses, the book sellers, the florists, the illegal flower mongers for the success. Today I decided to visit the book stands scattered along La Rambla de Catalunya and Passeig de Gracia. It was hot in Barcelona. A beach day. The first very hot day of the year. Fortunately I took my Coolpix instead of the big one. My back was sweating under the backpack. People shoving me all the time. When Sant Jordi comes, you are supposed to buy a book and give away flowers. I couldn't concentrate on the books. I finally bought a small one on digital photography but once I got home, in the nearest bookshop. I did the same with the flowers. It is a real nuisance for me to buy the flowers early in the morning and carrying them around all day till I get home and handle them to my wife and daughter. Why would I do that if I have a florist a block away from home! Oh, no, tradition is tradition and people enjoy some sacrifice. There were authors dedicating books and long lines of people waiting. This year I noticed different flowers. Many red roses were painted or tinted with some blue imitating FC Barcelona colors. Others were strange like these wire flowers.

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Aphid Plague Feeding on Flower Stalk

A colony of green aphids (Sp. pulgón), all of them female by the way, plus a little extra company of assorted winged insects, feeding on the stem of this beautiful flower.

You may be wondering how do I know they are all female. Well not only they are all ladies but they are also pregnant. Yes, they are and in fact they are born pregnant.

Isn't that amazing? According to the source I consulted today this is what always happens at the beginning of the season in an aphid's life. To make it more complex, they give birth to more female aphids and so the process loops till the end of the season when females deliver males too. Mating starts and eggs are laid for the next season. Incredible!

Here is an article about controlling aphids in your garden and a beautiful image of a lady aphid giving birth. By the way this picture was just an accident since I took it on some flower pot at a friend's balcony. Strange as it may seem I didn't notice a single bug then so perfectly camouflaged as they were. Back at home on zooming in I found out.

White Daisy Detail

A detail of a white daisy. I hope you like this macro which looks better if you click on the image. A white daisy is just that, I don't have much to say considering I have published other similar posts before. See two of them here: Daisy Paradise and Morning Daisies in Bellaterra.

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Pear Tree Flowers

Just some pear tree flowers I happened to shoot at the beginning of spring, if there ever was spring this year. Summer is already here, hot weather and all. Not that we had too many sunny days in the past two months.

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Lantana Closeup in Barcelona

This is a lantana I came across in some Barcelona garden. It has been a very rainy season in the city in spite of the water crisis of past months so flowers look healthier than ever and make good photographs. Check an older picture of Lantanas. Have a nice weekend everyone!

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Gerbera Daisy Close-up

This is what was left of a gerbera daisy or at least that's how I figure it is called. Some time ago I posted a similar picture and I was kindly given the right name. I think it was Heather who did it. Thanks again. If I am in a mistake today blame me! Of course my posts are not about taxonomy but beauty, my concept of beauty. Sometimes I am lucky to match yours and more than often I fail. That's the wonderful thing. The world would be very boring otherwise.

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Barcelona Trees: Horse Chestnut or Conker Flowers

Aesculus hippocastanum or common horse chestnut can be seen in some parks of Barcelona so I thought you might like the image of its flowers. These I shot in Bellaterra in early spring. I suppose it must have yielded the characteristic spiny conkers by now. From the seeds of this tree a substance called saponin aescin is extracted and used for health purposes like treating varicose veins, edema, sprains. This constituent strengthens the blood vessels and prevents thrombosis. It has haemolytic properties and is recommended as an astringent and circulatory tonic. The extracts from horse chestnut are used to treat cellulitis. So you see, the beautiful tree and its flowers are not just an adornment. Talking about adornment. Did you know that the leaves of horse chestnut trees are a common pattern in art nouveau architecture? Well, follow this fantastic link and you'll find out more about the use of nature in the Art Nouveau decoration.

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Almond Flowers

Almond Flowers: A Botanical Delight

Nature has gifted us with an abundance of breathtaking sights, and one such marvel is the delicate and enchanting almond flower. Almond trees, scientifically known as Prunus dulcis, belong to the Rosaceae family and are native to the Middle East and Mediterranean regions. These stunning blossoms announce the arrival of spring, transforming vast landscapes into beautiful tapestries of white and pink hues.

The almond tree's blossoming season is a magical time, typically occurring in late winter or early spring, before the emergence of leaves. As the winter chill gives way to the gentle warmth of the sun, the almond trees awaken from their dormant state. The flowers burst forth, adorning the branches with clusters of soft, fragrant petals. It is a sight that evokes a sense of joy and anticipation, symbolizing the rejuvenation and renewal of nature.

Almond flowers are small, measuring only about an inch in diameter, and possess a five-petal structure. These petals can vary in color, ranging from pure white to shades of pale pink. Each blossom showcases a vivid center, composed of a multitude of stamens and a single pistil. The stamens bear the pollen-producing anthers, while the pistil holds the ovary, which eventually develops into the almond fruit.

The scientific name of the almond flower is Prunus dulcis var. dulcis, and it is closely related to other members of the Prunus genus, including cherries, peaches, and plums. This shared lineage is evident in the similarities in their flower structure and the overall appearance of the trees.

Almond trees have a rich history and are deeply intertwined with the culture and heritage of many regions. One such place where almond trees hold a special significance is Catalonia. The gentle Mediterranean climate and fertile soils of Catalonia provide an ideal environment for almond cultivation, making it one of the prominent almond-producing regions in Europe.

The almond blossoms are not only visually stunning but also play a crucial role in the pollination process. Bees and other pollinators are drawn to their nectar and pollen, ensuring the cross-pollination necessary for the production of almonds.

The blossoming period of almond trees in Catalonia typically occurs between January and February, marking the arrival of spring. It is a time of celebration, and local communities often organize festivals and events to honor the beauty and significance of the almond flowers. Visitors can immerse themselves in the exciting atmosphere, enjoying traditional music, dances, and local delicacies made with almonds. For example, in many towns of Lleida numerous activities are organized around almond trees in bloom. Check this interesting blog with pictures at Les Garrigues, Lleida.

The next time you witness the gentle embrace of almond blossoms, take a moment to appreciate the intricate beauty and botanical marvels they represent.

Daisy Paradise

Field of Daisies

This a picture of daisies, multi-color daisies as seen from ground level the way you would see them if laying on a field.

The image is over saturated on purpose, to magnify the idyllic experience.

I didn't want the scientific approach to the flower, on the contrary, I thought of a painting, the limit between reality and fiction, the point where a photograph starts looking like a painting, when flowers seem to be a sort of nature's brush strokes.

Withered Flower

Flowers come and flowers go, the essence of life. Splendor dissapears but you can still find beauty in withering things. Nature is like a whimsical damsel that needs to wear new makeup and dress every single day, every single minute, ever since the world began.

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The Flower in Red: Spring Wishes

Red hot spring fire emanates from this flower in red, let the good vibrations its beauty provokes thaw your winter lethargy and invigorate your soul.

Almond Tree Flowers in Early Spring

Just another bunch of almond flowers taken in early spring someday in Lleida last year.

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Spring Infatuation: Purple Flowers

Infatuation is defined as a foolish, unreasoning, or extravagant passion or attraction or an object of extravagant, short-lived passion. I couldn't think of a better word to express my mood in front of the color, the design, the equilibrium and symmetry of these insignificant purple flowers announcing the arrival of Spring.

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Photo of Yellow Flowers at Ramblas Stall in Barcelona, Spain

A close look on a bunch of yellow flowers, possibly daisies, that remind me of sunflowers in a certain way. I am not a florist or an expert on botany so I leave it up to you to identify the right name. Now that you are with me visiting Las Ramblas flower stalls in Barcelona, why don't you check my whole flower set on Flickr. All of the images together are more luring.

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Orange are My Favorite Flowers

Orange is not my favorite color, at least not if compared to blue or purple but in photography it really makes a difference. I have seen extraordinary pictures that include such color, here are some: Orange is the new color
My orange flowers today, I believe, are roses and they are only a modest contribution.

Cactus Flowers in Las Ramblas Stall

Nature's designs come in many ways, some are blatantly horrendous, some are subtle and beautiful as these tiny cacti flowers I found at a stall in Las Ramblas de Barcelona.