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Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: Floral

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Flowers speak a language of sentiment and memory, fragrant with associations of all kinds. Think of the vast variety of colors and names of flowers and imagine all the stories woven by combinations of these. There are historical records of assigning meaning to certain flowers – from Shakespeare to the Old Farmer’s Almanac and beyond. I have my own stories with these recent photos that I took.

Bleeding hearts will always remind me of my oldest daughter. They bloomed beside her first home in Wisconsin, and she has tattoos featuring their symbolic shape. When I see this row of bleeding hearts, I think of a parade of sensitive souls backing each other up. They could be my daughter and her friends.

I didn’t realize I captured a raindrop on the edge of this rose as I snapped this picture this morning. Now that I see it in close-up, I think of a brave droplet scaling an orange Everest. Orange roses signify “enthusiasm”, according to one list. Maybe this flower’s message to me is “don’t let it rain on your parade”!

Looking deeply into the center of a bearded iris is like diving in a coral reef. The vibrant color and fanciful shapes create a magic world.

The following four shots exist to preserve the Mother’s Day peonies I received from my oldest daughter. I took them over a few days’ time. In my mind, Danny Kaye is singing about The Peony Bush there in his garden. I am struck at how their petal pattern resembles an artichoke’s leaves and surprised at how they seem to explode over time, compact spheres opening and fading like graceful grenades.

A flower is so fascinating up close, a world in itself. But what if there was a whole landscape of flowers as far as your eye could see? I have seen wildflowers (lupines, shooting stars, spring beauty, trout lilies) covering hillsides, and they have taken my breath away, like the sudden and ephemeral serendipity of a rainbow. I feel a bit differently when I see flowers as crops. It’s more manufacturing than magic, to my mind.

I can’t help feeling incredibly lucky to live on a planet with flowers. There is beauty to behold just bursting forth from the dirt underfoot! What an amazing gift.

Thank you, Sofia, for hosting a Flower Fest here this week! Click HERE to see her challenge post.

25 thoughts on “Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: Floral”

  1. Priscilla, aren’t we really lucky to live among flowers? I certainly agree with your statement in the post. You have a magnificent way with macros. You capture them with incredible details and vibrant colors. I loved your post beyond my words can express.

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  2. I love this, especially the image of a coral reef in a flower. I can completely see it now that you have. And I see some pimento olives in your peonies, too. There’s a LOT going on in some of these flowers!

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  3. My comments keep disappearing–one more try! I love this, especially your comparison of the flower’s world to a coral reef. I completely can see it now that you’ve found it. And I see pimentos in those peonies. Sooooo much going in in each bud. Pink bleeding hearts also have a special meaning to me–they were the only things blooming when I moved for the first time in my adult life by myself, and they tickled the ears of our beloved beagle Brady during his last months. He loved those bleeding hearts.

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    • I think your comments finally came through as “Someone”, but it’s great to know it’s YOU, Stephanie! I hope you’ve been well, seeing the beauty in the world and being tickled pink yourself. 🙂

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  11. I love the way you brought us meaning in all your choices, Priscilla. Your daughter, orange Everest and The Peony Bush. You are always so clever with your thoughts. I love that you describe wildflower meadows, as rainbows, but as a tulip lover… the crop makes me smile.

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